2013 South Asian Games

Host change

Originally, as per tradition of bringing the Games to each and every country of South Asia, Bhutan was selected to host the 12th edition of the Games. However, at the 41st South Asian Olympic Council held at Dhaka in February 2010, Bhutan expressed its inability to host the Games. So, to replace Bhutan, Delhi stepped in as host of the Games. Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi officially received the SAG flag in Dhaka after the 11th edition of the Games drew to a close on 9 February 2010. The Sports Ministry of India said, in an official press statement, that Delhi had been chosen as host so that the sport infrastructure built for the 2010 Commonwealth Games remains in use.

Delay

Initially, the Games were expected to be held in October, 2012.{{cite web

The International Olympic Committee banned the Indian Committee in March for political interference (the national government played a role in Olympic officials' selection). This delayed the event further as the ban was only lifted in May and the possibility of a low-cost edition of the games was raised among ongoing hosting discussions and poor relations with neighboring Pakistan due to the 2013 India–Pakistan border incidents.

Two years later, on 11 February 2014, the International Olympic Committee decided to lift the ban. Up until now, the Indian side competed in Olympic events such as the Winter Olympic Games as independent participants.

A year later, on 5 June 2015, the uncertainty over the venue to host the 12th South Asian Games ended with the Sports Ministry and Indian Olympic Association deciding to hold the regional multi-sporting event in Guwahati and Shillong in November–December 2015. However, this was postponed even further to a tentative date of February 2016.

References

References

1. (16 December 2011). "IOA postpones South Asian Games, scraps recent committees". Rediff.
2. Khatiwada, Nabin. (11 April 2012). "India proposes mid-Feb for hosting South Asian Games". My Republica.
3. [http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-10-155789-SAG-may-be-shifted-from-India thenews.com.pk] {{webarchive. link. (2015-02-04)
4. [http://www.sundaytimes.lk/sport-news/31789-athletics-south-asian-games-in-danger.html Athletics: South Asian Games in danger ] {{webarchive. link. (2013-06-21 . ''Sunday Times'' (Sri Lanka). Retrieved on 2013-06-19.)
5. "Indian athletes at Sochi 2014 able to compete under own flag after Olympic suspension lifted".
6. "Uncertainty over SAG ends; Guwahati, Shillong to co-host Games".
7. "South Asian Games to be held from Dec 10-20".
8. "12th South Asian Games to be postponed further".