Hà Nội and locals are ready for the SEA Games 31 to be held in Việt Nam next year. Photo thethao.ai

SEA Games

HÀ NỘI — They may be a year away, but Hà Nội authorities are ready to host the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games 31.

“Being the main host locality, hosting the most sports at SEA Games 31 and ASEAN Para Games 11, Hà Nội has directed departments, branches and districts to implement preparations in all aspects.

"In the preparation of the facilities, Hà Nội has 12 districts that have prepared the facilities, approved the project designing and constructing in the first quarter next year and will complete next August,” said vice-chairman of Hà Nội People's Committee Ngô Văn Quý at a conference of the organising board of the SEA Games 31 and ASEAN Para Games 11 in Hà Nội on Tuesday.

“Along with that, Hà Nội has also reviewed the facilities for accommodations for sports groups of countries coming to the capital; preparing for the opening and closing ceremony of the event,” Quý added.

The region's biggest sporting event will be held in Hà Nội and 10 neighbouring provinces from November 21 to December 2 next year.

Leaders of provinces such as Bắc Giang, Bắc Ninh, Hải Dương and, Quảng Ninh said they have checked facilities and continue to invest and upgrade them to serve the hosting of a number of sports.

“Bắc Ninh is very happy to be selected to host sports such as boxing and kickboxing. The province has reviewed all the facilities and will invest in upgrading and repairing the multi-purpose gymnasium and building a training centre for teams,” said Vương Quốc Tuấn, vice chairman of Bắc Ninh province’s People’s Committee.

Meanwhile, Quảng Ninh will host six sports and has chosen the venues for events, with women’s football to be held in Cẩm Phả Stadium and beach volleyball and handball at Tuần Châu tourism area.

“Quảng Ninh has also been checking to continue to invest and upgrade the missing work items. It can be said that up to now, our province is ready to host the competitions,” said deputy director of Quảng Ninh Department of Culture and Information, Nguyễn Thanh Tùng.

Appreciating the preparation work of Hà Nội and localities hosting the 31st SEA Games, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Nguyễn Ngọc Thiện, said the good news is that the localities around the capital all have good facilities.

The minister said he hopes that ministries, branches and localities will continue to work with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to prepare for the Games.

At the conference, the National Sports Administration gave a list of up to 40 sports, including 36 approved sports and four sports the regional countries recommended for the SEA Games 31.

The approved sports include a maximum of 520 disciplines, most of which are basic contents of the key sports at the Asian Games and Olympics.

For the proposed additional sports, the 31st SEA Games organisers are still reviewing, discussing and consulting with experts before reaching a final decision. The new sports also need to meet specific criteria.

According to Trần Đức Phấn, deputy director of the National Sports Administration, the selection criteria for sports must be based on Vietnamese practice. The first is to have athletes competing in these events. Secondly, there must be facilities to hold them well.

Per SEA Games’ rules, the host country must announce the number of sports a year before the event. At the next meeting in November, the hosts Việt Nam will announce 40 sports and the number of disciplines at the Games. — VNS