India made a formal presentation bid for hosting the 2014 Asian Games in New Delhi with Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi seeking a whole-hearted support from Olympic Council of Asia members (OCA) for what he described as the ''bid of a billion people''.
The Indians made a detailed presentation of its proposed infrastructure and facilities for the 2014 Games at a special meeting of the OCA in Doha on Saturday.
South Korea's Incheon City, which is the only other bidder for the Games, also made a presentation.
In his address, Kalmadi stressed on the point that the bid had the support of the Indian government which had also deputed the sports secretary Madhukar Gupta to be part of the presentation delegation.
"It is the bid of a one billion people. The whole of India wants the Game to be held there. Therefore we can expect a bigger participation and involvement," he said.
The IOA chief asserted that New Delhi will be the best place to host the 17th edition of the extravaganza.
"The facilities we will provide will be difficult to match.
"We'll raise the bar which others will find it hard to beat," he said, stressing on the infrastructure and facilities being planned for the Games.
At the end of the speech, Kalmadi sought queries and clarifications, if any, from the OCA members. However, none came which was interpreted by the IOA officials as a virtual endorsement of their bid.
Indian Olympic Association secretary-general Randhir Singh also addressed the gathering which was attended by a host of top Indian officials.
India had hosted the inaugural edition of the Asian Games in 1951 and also staged the 1982 edition of the Games in New Delhi.
The Indian capital is staging the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and which should help in tilting the scale in its favour when the OCA's General Assembly takes a final decision on the host venue.
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