Vietnam ready to host SEA Games despite delays
HANOI - Vietnam says it will be ready to host the 22nd SEA Games this
December despite delays in completion of some venues and possible
accommodation shortages.
Tran Chien Thang, Vice Minister of Culture and Information, told reporters
that two of the main sports complexes are expected to be completed by
Sept 2, while the remaining venues are projected to be finished later that
month.
The Games are scheduled for Dec 5-13.
Thang said the government is considering whether to reschedule the school
term for elementary students so they will be off during December to cut
down on traffic congestion. No decision has been made.
Many hotels in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have already been booked by
the expected 7,000 athletes, but “it doesn't mean all hotels are fully
booked,'' Thang said. He said he hopes the remaining vacancies will be
snapped up by tourists.
This is the first time Vietnam has hosted the SEA Games, which will feature
32 sports and is the region's biggest sporting event held every two years.
The 10 members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean)
include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. East Timor also has
registered to compete.
The Associated Press - July 05, 2003.
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