Athletes winning medals at a SEA Games competition (Photo: VNA) Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong made the remark while speaking at a teleconference of the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) Council on December 7.
He said the Games, initially scheduled for November 21 to December 2, 2021, had to be delayed due to the COVID-19 resurgence in Vietnam, and the country wishes to receive assistance and support from the SEAGF, the national Olympic committees of Southeast Asian countries, and participants in the meeting so as to successfully organise the event.
Reporting on the preparations for the 31st SEA Games, Hoang Quoc Vinh, Director of the High-Performance Sports Department at the ministry’s Sports Administration, said the Games will be held in Hanoi and the northern provinces of Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, and Bac Giang. It is expected to feature 40 sports with 526 categories and attract the participation of 10,000 people.
Regarding anti-COVID-19 measures during the Games, Nguyen Van Phu, a representative of the Games organising committee’s healthcare and anti-doping sub-committee, said first aid and COVID-19 testing services will be provided at both competition and non-competition venues. Athletes, coaches, and members of delegations will undergo regular testing during the Games.
At the meeting, the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia also informed about the country’s preparations for the 32nd SEA Games, set to take place in Phnom Penh from May 5 to 17, 2023.
The chairperson of the Cambodian committee, Thong Khon, was also appointed co-Chair of the SEAGF. According to normal practices, the head of the Olympic committee of the country hosting the SEA Games will act as Chair of the SEAGF in two years so as to facilitate the coordination of this federation’s activities and preparations for the Games.
The next meeting of the SEAGF Council is set to take place on May 11, 2022./.
VNA
