Special Report/ Asian Games Incheon 2014 Possessing know-how to upgrade Asian Games to Olympic Games level With the postponing of the decision on the host city for the 17th Asian Games to be held in 2014 to the second half of next year, the 2014 Incheon Asian Games Bidding Committee now has more time to prepare. But if Incheon is selected as the host city for the 2014 Asian Games during the 25th OCA General Assembly in December this year in advance, there is also a possibility that it could affect the decision on the hosting of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, slated to be in Guatemala in July 2007. Korea's resort city of PyeongChang is bidding to host the Winter Games in 2014. Hence, with this postponement decision as an impetus, the 2014 Incheon Asian Games Bidding Committee plans to convert its strategy to get votes from established direct lurement activity with OCA or NOC members as its object to comprehensive meaning's citizens' sympathy plus getting support from the central government, the academic world, the press, the economic world, the sporting world and so forth. Fifty-fifty bid possibility As regards the Committee's bid success possibility on the forthcoming 2014 Games, chairman Shin Yong-suk, 2014 Incheon Asian Games Bidding Committee said in an exclusive interview with The Korea IT Times in his Seoul office, located in the Koreana Hotel, that it is fifty-fifty from the current standpoint, adding that at first, Incheon was slightly disadvantaged in comparison with India's New Delhi in that India holds its stakes in Asian Games historically or realistically, but the shoe is now on the other foot with Korea's fifty-fifty chance. About the background why India was so advantageous at first, Shin explains: "Since India regards the 2014 Asian Games as a rehearsal for hosting the 2016 Olympic Games India is launching the 2014 Asian Games bidding activity pan-nationally and enthusiastically." In comparison with such India's enthusiastic pan-national movement, the Committee chairman bemoaned the fact that the pan-national full mobilization movement for bidding the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, Korea is becoming weaker. Shin is concerned that Incheon may be disadvantaged in the decision of the hosting city for the 2014 Asian Games because Korea's PyeongChang is bidding for the 2014 Winter Olympics alike. However, chairman Shin who was a veteran in the press, points out: "New Delhi is not high in terms of city awareness degree rather than Korea in the light of the fact that Korea has accumulated much experience from hosting the Seoul Asian Games in 1986, the Seoul Olympics 1988 and the Busan Asian Games plus the FIFA World Cup in 2002," adding that such accumulated experience will serve as a solid foundation of strength for Korea as it hosts the 17th Incheon Asian Games 2014. More cutting-edge compared with New Delhi He further points out regarding India's vulnerable points, by saying that India doesn't hold any experience to have hosted international games since the 1980 Asian Games. In particular, he said that it is much skeptical also on whether India will be able to really lead large-scale international sports events by grafting IT into the Asian Games' proceeding. In that regard, he has committed to upgrading Asian Games' level to the league of Olympic Games by utilizing the most cutting-edge Korea's IT technology power, introducing that Incheon City is equipped with a cutting-edge ICT infrastructure. It has furthermore vast experience, from hosting international sporting events, in utilizing state-of-the-art technology, operated by highly-trained technicians, to support mass media and communications for global broadcasting of the Incheon Asian Games 2014, Shin notes. Especially, Shin keeps an eye on the fact that Korea holds manpower to be able to operate Asian Games on a par with Olympic Games as seen in the Seoul Olympics 1988 and the Busan Asian Games in 2002 plus a host of volunteers who have experienced scores of international sports events, differently from India. Besides, chairman Shin is proud to say that Incheon International Airport is located within 30 minutes from any sports stadium venue too including the Athletes Village and central Games areas in Incheon area, an unparalleled cutting-edge in comparison with New Delhi, India. On the whole, he concludes that it is only Korea that can upgrade Asian Games to the level of Olympics in terms of both hardware and software. Commitment to hold a perfectly organized event! With regard to sports ground facilities, the chairman underscores that the 2014 Incheon Asian Games Bidding Committee will do its best to reduce excessive investment and dual investments. It is said that Incheon is preparing for the 2014 Asian Games with 33 (20 existing facilities, three under construction, 10 will soon be constructed) of the world's highest-quality stadiums such as Incheon Munhak Sports Complex, which will be used as the main stadium, according to Shin. As these facilities will all be built to provide leisure activities, host cultural events, and offer space for relaxation, the chairman said he is confident that Incheon will develop the highest-quality worldclass facilities. Once again, he stressed that Incheon is committed to holding a perfectly organized event by establishing a sports program that is the largest, and best, in terms of the number of participating countries, athletes, sporting and other events, and by drawingup detailed operational plans for each and every event.