Vietnam not yet ready to postpone SEAG over SARS
HANOI - Vietnam has not yet considered postponing December’s Southeast Asian Games, an official said Friday, asserting that the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which has caused more than 160 deaths worldwide, has been well controlled in the country.
“There were few people in Vietnam infected or killed by
SARS and with the determination of the Vietnamese government, we believe that we will check the epidemic,” the official from the State Committee for Physical Training and Sports said.
SARS has killed five people and infected 63 in Vietnam.
“We haven’t received any suggestion from other
countries to postpone (the competition). We will only have the answer about their participation at the meeting of South East Asian Sports Federation, to be held in Ho Chi Minh city next week,” he added.
The Olympic Council of Malaysia secretary Sieh Kok Chi
said Thursday he would propose that Vietnam draw up contingency plans, including a possible postponement of the December 5-13 Games at a meeting in Ho Chi Minh Ciety.
But the Vietnamese authorities have been claiming they
have the disease under control.
In Tuoi Tre (The Youth) daily Friday, minister of Sports
Nguyen Danh Thai admitted SARS has hurt preparations for SEA Games 2003, as many international tournaments and training courses have been scrapped.
Vietnam would be hosting the Games for the first time, its
biggest sporting event in five years.
Agence France Presse - April 18, 2003.
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