Vietnam's capital city Hanoi will host the 2019 Asian Games, the Olympic Council of Asia announced here on Thursday.
Hanoi won the right to host the showpiece event in 2019 over Surabaya of Indonesia in a two-city race following a ballot of delegates at the 31st OCA General Assembly here.u00a0
Speaking at a press conference immediately after the General Assembly, OCA president H E Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah congratulated the two bidding nations on their preparations and presentations, and said both were suitable to host the 18th edition of the Asian Games in 2019.
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Regarding Vietnam, which will host the Asian Games for the first time, Sheikh Ahmad said, "Everyone remembers the Asian Indoor Games in Hanoi in 2009 and all the participants were very satisfied and wanted to go back to Vietnam. "Vietnam will also host the 5th Asian Beach Games at Nha Trang in 2016, and through this experience I am confident they will organise a very successful Asian Games in 2019.
"We have trust in their leaders, the government of Vietnam, the city of Hanoi and the National Olympic Committee. Through my experience in sport and also in finance and the economy, Vietnam is always committed and delivers on its promises," he said.
Sheikh Ahmad said Hanoi was capable of hosting such a big event in terms of finance, infrastructure, marketing and other aspects. "I am confident the Vietnam government, Hanoi city and the National Olympic Committee will do a great job with the cooperation of the OCA. Vietnam has all the tools - a country with big potential and a booming economy," the OCA president said.
Hanoi, a city with a population of seven million, is planning to hold 36 sports, including the 28 in the 2020 Olympic Games, and 16 days of competition in late November 2019.u00a0
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