Jordan prepares action plan for Asian Games bid

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is firmly on the road to presenting its bid for hosting the Asian Games in 2014.

"We are in the process of developing a feasibility and action plan to putting our bid for hosting the Asian Games in 2014," Prince Faisal Bin Al Hussain, Chairman of the Jordan Olympic Committee (JOC) told Gulf News in an exclusive interview yesterday.

Prince Faisal heads the JOC, which has been given full autonomy for running sports in the Hashemite Kingdom, some two years back.

"We are confident of hosting the Games as we have already conducted the Pan Arab Games in 1999," Prince Faisal said.

"However, we are also aware that the Asian Games are twice the size of the Pan Arab Games. And that is why we are developing a feasibility and action plan before we officially table our bid [by 2007]," he added.

Earlier this month, the sporting world in Asia was abuzz with speculation after a private investor allegedly offered to organise the Asian Games in Dubai.

That put Dubai as one of the three contenders for the Asian Games after New Delhi [India] and Jordan had already offered to host the 2014 competition.

"Obviously, we have a couple of years to look at the infrastructure in Jordan," Prince Faisal said.

The JOC chief hinted that Jordan would never take a step forward, should Dubai step in and offer to host the Games. "Obviously, our concern would be that our interests do not undermine each other," he stated.

"But it is important to go through the bidding process as it makes you plan ahead." Prince Faisal gave the thumbs up sign to the capabilities of Dubai in hosting such a prestigious event.

"If Dubai wants it, then they can do. I have no doubts in their capabilities to make things happen," he observed.