The Afro-Asian Games in New Delhi delayed after the terrorist attacks in the United States could be staged in late March if they are held at all, officials said today.
The International Olympic Committee have allotted March 24th to April 2nd as the new dates for the games, while "no dates are available after that because it is the year of the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games," said Suresh Kalmadi, president of the Indian Olympic Association.
The Afro-Asian Games, scheduled to be held in the Indian capital from November 3rd to 11th, were postponed on Monday due to security reasons.
But Indian Sports Minister Uma Bharti said it was difficult to predict the games' future.
"When world peace is under threat, how can we commit on holding the games in the near future?" she told reporters.
Meanwhile, Kalmadi said India's participation in the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games in Pakistan next month will be decided by the foreign ministry in a couple of days.
"We have even written to the prime minister and are awaiting a clearance for the SAF Games," Kalmadi said.
The SAF Games are to be held in Islamabad from October 6th to 15th.
AFP