Myanmar sports venues ready for hosting 27th SEA Games
Stadia, aquatic centres and sport arenas are ready to host the 27th South East Asian Games in Myanmar in December this year.
With its opening ceremony to be held on 11th December, the SEA Games will feature 33 sports, with the usual sporting and athletics competition staples such as track and field, basketball, swimming and boxing being joined by regional sports such as sepak takraw, a cross between football and volleyball, and pencak silat, a form of martial arts.
The event will feature over 5,900 athletes from 11 countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam, as well as host Myanmar.
The main sports venues for the Games will be the Wunna Theikdi and Zayar Thiri Stadiums in the capital Naypyitaw along with other facilities in Yangon, Mandalay and Ngwehsaung.
The Games Sports Village, including accommodation hostels, training venues and other facilities, has also been built in the capital of Nay Pyi Taw.
Reviewing preparations, Burma's Deputy Sports Minister Zaw Win told The Irrawaddy that arrangements for the Games are on track, recently stating "we are happy that all preparations are coming on time and look forward to Myanmar holding the 27th SEA Games."
Among the planned events, football and Futsal are expected to be the main local spectator draw during the Games with Myanmar National Olympic Committee International Relations Secretary Myat Thura Soe also telling The Irrawaddy "we expect the crowds will be most interested in football, especially when the Myanmar team plays."
While the SEA Games will be held from 11th to 22nd December, qualifying schedules in some sports will start on 1st December.
The SEA Games have been held every two years since 1959. Myanmar hosted the event in 1961 and 1969.
For more information go to www.27seagames2013.com
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