Vietnam Quits as Host of 2019 Asian Games

Vietnam will no longer host the 2019 Asian Games after citing concerns that the event would not prove financially viable.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said Vietnam was suffering the effects of global recession and the state was unable to foot the bill for facilities and venues that would not be profitable in the years after the Games.

Following an emergency meeting, Dung concluded it was better to opt out now, because poor preparation could damage Vietnam’s reputation.

“Hosting this could help us promote our economy, society and the country’s image, however, if we did not prepare carefully and successfully, it could have the opposite effect,” Dung said in a statement posted on the government’s website on Thursday.

“State budget is limited and has to be focused on investing in other very urgent tasks.”