Kerala likely to host South Asian Games in Nov-Dec

After successfully hosting the National Games in February, Kerala may host the South Asian Games in November-December as the Indian Olympic Association has offered the state to stage the regional multi-sporting event.
The IOA, in its Annual General Meeting in December last year, had proposed to hold the 12th SAG in Guwahati and Shillong but it is now learnt that the Assam government has expressed its inability to host the event. Meghalaya gave the approval but the IOA understandably thought it not feasible to hold the event in Shillong alone.
With time running out to stage the event, which has been postponed a few times in the past, the IOA, after consultation with the Sports Ministry, has asked the Kerala government whether it wants to host the SAG or not.

"On the recommendation of the Sports Ministry, we have sent a formal letter to the Kerala government asking whether it wants to host the South Asian Games or not," IOA Secretary General Rajiv Mehta told PTI.
In the letter, a copy of which was also sent to the Sports Ministry, Mehta said that he had discussed the proposal with the chief minister and sports minister of Kerala and they have "agreed in principle" to host the SAG.
"We have to fulfill our international commitment and we have asked Kerala government to reply in a week's time. Accordingly, we will take a decision on the venue in consultation with the government. The IOA General House will take a final call on the matter," he added.

The advantage for holding the SAG in Kerala is that the state has infrastructure as it recently hosted the National Games in February. The capital city of Thiruvananthapuram is expected to host most of the disciplines if Kerala decides to host the event.
The budget for hosting the SAG, which is likely to be a 12-day affair, has been estimated to Rs 60-70 crores and the Sports Ministry will bear around 90 per cent of the cost of hosting the event.