KUALA LUMPUR – The 31st edition of the SEA Games is in limbo since 8 Southeast Asia countries are objecting to a postponement - a direct conflict with hosts Vietnam’s request to do just the opposite.
Member countries except Laos met virtually today to discuss Vietnam’s proposal to postpone the multi-even sports to June next year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria told The Vibes that as expected, the SEA Games organising committee had tabled their proposal to postpone the Games to next year but eight member countries, including Malaysia, had objected to the proposal.
He said that Myanmar was the only country that supported Vietnam’s proposal, while Laos is yet to respond.
Norza said that the SEA Games organising committee has been given two weeks to consult the Vietnam Government and come back with a decision.
“The conclusion that was made today is to give the organising committee a two-week window to discuss with their Government based on our feedback. I hope they come back with a good decision.
“Singapore and we agreed that pushing the SEA to next year would do not good to our athletes as it will be a packed calendar, while other countries had other reasons, which involved budgets.
“Other countries expressed their dissatisfaction to postponed because the budget they have received from their Governments was for 2020 and that they would not be able to get extra budgets for the Games if it is postponed next year.
“We will wait for another two-weeks to see what happens but as for Malaysia, we are firm with our decision to go on this year,” said Norza.
Earlier, The Vibes reported that the SEA Games in Hanoi will be called off due to the worrying Covid-19 situation, which has spread across Vietnam with 6,004 cases already registered in 39 provinces. – The Vibes, June 9, 2021
