Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 20, 2019: Sri Lanka has made an official bid to host the next South Asian Games in 2021. The Sri Lanka Ministry of Sports has approached the South Asian Olympic Committee (SAOC), the governing body of the Games, asking for the hosting rights of the 14th edition. The request was made at a committee meeting of the South Asian Olympic Committee in Kathmandu last week. The 13th South Asian Games will be staged in Kathmandu, Nepal, from December 1-10. “Yes, Sri Lanka has made a bid to host the next Games. No decision has been taken by the South Asian Olympic Committee who will meet to discuss this offer during the Games in Kathmandu,” confirmed Suresh Subramaniam, President of the Sri Lanka National Olympic Committee. According to Subramaniam, Sri Lanka was the only country interested in hosting the 2021 event. The island nation has twice previously hosted the Games, in 1991 and 2006. Pakistan was named to host the 2021 Games but, due to concerns over security, the governing body has decided to look for an alternative host. The Sri Lankan delegation at last week’s SAOC meeting in Kathmandu has also proposed that Sri Lanka host the 2021 South Asian Games in partnership with the Maldives, with sports such as football and beach volleyball to be held in the capital Male.
Sri Lanka bid to host 2021 South Asian Games
