2,000 athletes expected for Afro-Asian Games

Onkar Singh

Over 2,000 athletes from 42 Asian and 53 African countries are expected to take part in the first Afro-Asian Games, to be held in Delhi from November 3 to 11.

This was disclosed by Sports and Youth Affairs minister Uma Bharti at a press conference in Delhi on Wednesday evening.

Earlier in the day, Bharti, who is also the president of the organising committee, and Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi had a long meeting with over 500 members of the organising committee in which various aspects of staging the Games were discussed.

"It has been decided to set up 17 subcommittees, which will deal with various aspects of the Games and report back to executive board. The organising committee has delegated financial powers to the executive board, which will take care of the financial needs of organising the Games on a day-to-day basis," Bharti said.

Amongst those who participated in the meeting were fashion designer Ritu Beri, actor-turned-politician Vinod Khanna, former Olympian Aslam Sher Khan, Minister of State for coal Shahnawaz Khan, former Central Industrial Security Force Director General Gautam Kaul, Punjab Kesari Delhi edition editor Ashwini Minna and sports ministers from various state governments.

Indian Hockey Federation president K P S Gill was conspicuous by his absence.

The sports minister informed that Kiran Bedi, India's first and best-known woman police officer, will be added to the organanising committee. "She should have been there. I admit it is a mistake and I own it up," Bharti said.

Kalmadi, who is working president of the organising committee, told newsmen that the Games secretariat would be functional at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium "very soon".

He said a joint meeting of the Asian and African countries likely to take part in the Games would be held on August 16 and 17, in New Delhi.

"By this time we would know the final list of the participants," he added.

Games secretary-general Randhir Singh informed that the national anthems of participating countries would not be played during the medals ceremony. Only the flags of the Asian Games Council and the African Games council would be flown during the ceremonies, he said.

However, the sports minister interjected to add that no final decision has been taken in this respect. "There is a subcommittee which would deal with this issue. After we receive its recommendation we will decide what to do on this matter," she said.