Vietnamese government officials have been entangled in a debate over the cost of hosting the 2019 Asian Games, with some pointing out that the expenses will be many times the estimated total of US$150 million.

In 2012, Vietnam was awarded the right to organize the multi-sport event after beating Indonesia in a bid to host the Games.

Local sports officials have said that organizing the Games will cost the country about $150 million.

Sports Minister Hoang Tuan Anh asserted at a National Assembly hearing this week that they have made careful calculations before working out the estimated cost.

But Deputy Finance Minister Do Hoang Anh Tuan argued that the amount does not include the cost of building the athletes’ village.

Tuan made it clear that the construction cost of the village will be at least VND2 trillion ($96.2 million).

He added that the construction of a velodrome for track cycling will cost another VND10 trillion ($480.8 million).   

Tuoi Tre has learned that the Republic of Korea spent $2.9 billion on the 2002 Asiad in Busan. Qatar spent a total of $2.8 billion hosting the Asiad in Doha in 2006.

China spent almost $20 billion for the 2010 Asiad, including $2.45 billion for the construction of the athletes’ village.

The Republic of Korea is planning a total cost of $1.6 billion for the 2014 Asiad to be held in September in Incheon.

Sports Minister Tuan Anh admitted that the governments in the aforementioned nations included construction costs in the calculation of total expenses, but in Vietnam, they must be separated because infrastructure development is covered by provincial governments.

Most construction projects for social welfare in Vietnamese provinces are funded by the State budget, which is granted by the central government.

The sports minister added that 80 percent of facilities and infrastructure required for the 2019 Asiad in Vietnam is available and ready for use.

However, Deputy Finance Minister Tuan said the country still needs VND2.6 trillion ($125 million) to repair these facilities.

National Assembly deputy Le Nhu Tien told Tuoi Tre that the sports minister was very ambiguous because he had split the total expenditure into smaller parts.

“I suggest announcing the full cost of organizing this event,” Tien said.