Indonesia may be interested in hosting the 2019 Asian Games, the country's top sports official said yesterday.
Vietnam has pulled out of hosting the 18th Asian Games and with only five months to go before the 17th Incheon Games in South Korea, where the next host city has to receive the Games' flag, many cities are seen as candidates to replace Vietnam.
"We will see what we can do. We will talk to our government," said Rita Subowo, president of the National Olympic Committee of Indonesia, during a SEA Games meeting in Bangkok yesterday.
Indonesia's Surabaya and Dubai of the UAE lost to Hanoi in the bid to host the 2019 Games. However, Subowo said that if Indonesia is to host the 2019 tournament, other Indonesian cities may be involved.
"We might consider other cities also," she said, adding that Surabaya has already won the right to host the 2021 Asian Youth Games.
"We have the potential to do that. However, we will also have to talk to the Olympic Council of Asia."
Chris Chan, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Singapore, said that although Singapore has hosted the Youth Olympics, the Asian Games is too big for the island state.
Chaiyapak Siriwat, a Thai member of the SEA Games Council, said that with limited time, the Olympic Council of Asia, may choose a city which is ready for the Asian Games.
"Nanjing may be ready to host the event as it will organise the Youth Olympics later this year," he said.