SEA Games Events To Be Held In Four Main Cities Of Myanmar In December

A total of 33 sports events "will be held on a grand scale" at the 27th Southeast Asia Games in three main cities -- Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, Mandalay and Pathein in Myanmar in December, according to XINHUA. Apart from Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon "will host the largest number of sports events" including Kampo, weightlifting, wrestling, hockey, shooting, body-building and group B matches of men's football at the existing sports facilities (XINHUA, 11/21). The STRAITS TIMES noted while organizers "have consistently insisted that they are ready to welcome the athlete contingents" from the various ASEAN nations, "concerns remain of Myanmar's capability to run the regional sports extravaganza smoothly." It has been 44 years since Myanmar last hosted a sports event of such scale. Nevertheless, Myanmar Olympic Committee Joint Secretary General U. Khin Maung Lwin "has reassured all participants" that the organising committee is "100 per cent" ready to host the Games (STRAITS TIMES, 11/21).