Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi says the government has to make a complete overhaul of its "attitude" towards modern sport if the country cherishes any hopes of hosting a mega event.
Kalmadi, still recovering from the shock of India losing its bid to host the 2014 Asian Games in Delhi, said while the Koreans had the financial backing from their government, it was not the same with India.
"The Koreans spent US $20 million on their bid. In the last two years, they were going to all member countries canvassing their case while we were given only US $1.5 million," Kalmadi said.
"Had our government committed more money, we could have got the Games. But with such an attitude, we cannot think of holding any Games in the future."
The big question that Delhi's defeat to Incheon of South Korea has thrown is how much impact did the feud between Kalmadi and Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar had on the outcome of the bid.
Kalmadi denied any personality clash between him and the sports minister but reiterated his earlier statement that Aiyar's public comments -- to the effect that holding of big Games made no difference to the poor -- did a lot of damage.
"Both the 'manis' were prime factors, Money and Mani," he said.
"Aiyar's comments were shown by the Koreans at the OCA, which showed that the Indian government is at loggerheads with the IOA.
"They asked why your Sports Minister is not here, and they thought we would not be able to host the Games in the manner in which Incheon can," Kalmadi said.
Aiyar was also reported to have opposed India's bid when the matter came up before the Union Cabinet.
"The IOA had talked to the Sports Minister (prior to planning the bid strategy) and whatever was asked was not agreed to by the minister," Kalmadi said.
"One man is not party. Cabinet had already cleared us but how could he have taken the matter with the Cabinet with just a week to go for presenting the bid?
"We were all surprised. We have missed a big opportunity to make Delhi a global city."
Kalmadi said that sporting events are looked at as business revenue models and any city had only to gain from hosting such events.
"Organising the Games doesn't cost anything to the government because after investing on infrastructure for the Commonwealth Games in 2010, we were required to build only three more stadiums for the Asian Games.
"The whole money comes through sponsors and hosting the Games is actually a profitable thing for the city."
