Asian Beach Games - Goa - 2018

PANAJI: Goa's desperate pitch to sell itself as a sports destination receives another installment as the state seeks to host the Asian Beach Games in 2018, the first time the games would be staged in India.

The Asian Beach Games in 2018, to be held under the tutelage of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), will be the biggest sports event to be hosted in Goa.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has won the right to host the Games in 2018 and, according to Sports Authority of Goa executive director VM Prabhudesai, "desires that Goa host the games since the state will be perfect hosts being a world tourist destination."

The SAG general body, of which chief minister Digambar Kamat is chairman, will meet on Monday to seek approval and recommend to the state government to allocate the necessary funds in subsequent budgets from 2012 to 2018 in a phased manner.

The Asian Beach Games will cost the state exchequer an estimated 20 crore.

Some 45 Asian nations will participate in the Games which comprises nine disciplines-beach volleyball, football, handball, kabaddi, sepaktakraw, sailing, windsurfing, paragliding and the triathlon. The Games is a modern multi-sport event developed by OCA and to be held every two years. The first games were held in Bali, Indonesia, in 2008 while Muscat hosted the second event last year.

Goa's turn is expected to come after Phuket in Thailand (2014) and Nha Trang in Vietnam (2016).

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