Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh has a meeting with leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on the organisation of SEA Games 31 (Photo: VietnamPlus) Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi is scheduled to host SEA Games 31’s opening and closing ceremonies, as well as competitions of nearly half of its sports. Thus there is a need for careful preparations and reception of foreign delegations, requested leaders of the capital city at a virtual meeting held on March 16.
Speeding up preparations, paying attention to details
As heard at the meeting, the capital city has been assigned to host 18 SEA Games sports at 15 venues, including 12 venues run by local wards and districts and three are operated by the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
As of March 15, the upgrade and repair of facilities serving training and competion is on schedule. The basic upgrade was to be completed ahead of the date, as the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF)’s inspection session will take place on March 18 and 19.
To date, the sub-committee for the opening and closing ceremonies has convened four meetings to review all tasks set out for the two important events. They have submitted for approval the respective scripts of special art programmes to the Minister of Culture, Sport, and Tourism, also head of the games organising committee.
Hanoi’s authorities are also set to work with the Ministry of Health and the organising committee to build scenarios and options for COVID-19 prevention and control throughout the tournament.
The capital’s authorities requested a quick approval of the special art programme scripts and a guidance for adjusting facilities serving the games in line with regulations.
A tourism booster for Hanoi and the country
Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Sports Administration Tran Duc Phan said Hanoi hosts the largest number of venues for competitions within the framework of the 31st SEA Games. This represents a great chance to boost tourism in the capital city, he said.
In response to COVID-19-induced difficulties, Phan asked the local authorities to prepare plans to ensure both epidemic prevention and control and professional sport competitions.
Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong speaks at the meeting (Photo: VietnamPlus) The biennial sporting event will open up a series of international events, which in turn will serve as a boost for tourism growth in Hanoi and the entire nation, said Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong.
Cuong requested Hanoi to prepare well for the upcoming Chefs de Mission Meeting of the 31st SEA Games on March 18.
Chu Xuan Dung, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, urged more active participation from the communities involved to accelerate preparation progress and proposed the ministry issuing specific guidance on related communications activities.
Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh affirmed SEA Games is an opportunity for the promotion of the capital’s position, potential, and trade.
He requested that carefully preparations follow suit, with associated events linked closely together./.
| SEA Games 31 will run in Hanoi and 11 neighbouring provinces and cities from May 12 to 23. It will feature 40 sports and expects to attract around 10,000 participants. The biennial event was initially slated for late 2021 but delayed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As scheduled, its opening and closing ceremonies will take place on May 12 and May 23, respectively, at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi. |
