Thailand Wants to Bid for Summer Olympics
December 14, 1998 - 0:0
BANGKOK, Thailand Asian Games host Thailand has announced its desire to stage a summer Olympics following a pat on the back from International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch. We feel we are capable to host the Olympic games,'' Pitak Intrawityanunt, a government minister, told reporters. How soon and how far away that might be decided on how it develops.'' Bangkok now is busy with the Asian Games, featuring 6,000 athletes from 41 nations.
The previous summer Olympics, in Atlanta in 1996, had 11,000 athletes from 197 countries. Bangkok has struggled with facilities and organization at the Asian Games. While the venues are new, most are without finishing touches such as paved parking lots, and areas such as the results service are clearly well short of Olympic standard eve Pitak would not say which year Thailand might target but an official from the country's Olympic Committee joked that 2016 would be best.
Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Ahmad al-Sabah said Asia should win the right to the 2008 games. Osaka, Japan, a city from China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, have indicated an interest in becoming the Asian candidate. Al-Sabah said a bid from Ban (AP)
The previous summer Olympics, in Atlanta in 1996, had 11,000 athletes from 197 countries. Bangkok has struggled with facilities and organization at the Asian Games. While the venues are new, most are without finishing touches such as paved parking lots, and areas such as the results service are clearly well short of Olympic standard eve Pitak would not say which year Thailand might target but an official from the country's Olympic Committee joked that 2016 would be best.
Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Ahmad al-Sabah said Asia should win the right to the 2008 games. Osaka, Japan, a city from China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, have indicated an interest in becoming the Asian candidate. Al-Sabah said a bid from Ban (AP)