Myanmar to host 2013 SEA Games?
Posted by Syimah Tuesday, 09 March 2010 09:11
MILITARY-ruled Myanmar is considering applying to host the 2013 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, possibly in the new capital Naypyidaw, after Singapore said it wanted to pull out, official sources said yesterday.
Singapore's sports minister said in January that the city-state wanted to withdraw because of delays in the construction of a new sports hub, and would prefer to host the event in 2015.
"We are now planning to host the coming Southeast Asian Games 2013 but we have not officially announced that," said a senior official at the sports ministry in Naypyidaw on condition of anonymity.
"It's still early to say whether we will hold this event in Naypyidaw."
Myanmar is the target of tough Western sanctions because of its detention of dissidents including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi but its Asian neighbours have pursued a policy of engagement.
The country's ruling generals moved their entire government from the economic hub Yangon to Naypyidaw four years ago, after building the new administrative capital in secret over the previous three years.
Another official at the ministry said Myanmar was trying to get more qualified sportsmen involved to prepare for the possibility of hosting the Southeast Asian Games.AFP
