SEA Games in Vietnam postponed amid rising COVID-19 cases

SINGAPORE: This year’s Southeast Asian Games due to take place in Vietnam has been postponed to 2022.

“The SEA Games Federation working committee met today and it was decided that the SEA Games will not be held this year,” said the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) on Thursday (Jul 8).

The biennial event was due to take place in Hanoi and 11 other locations from Nov 21 to Dec 2.

Vietnam’s national Olympic committee will explore new dates for consideration, added SNOC.

“The SNOC will adjust the selection policy accordingly to reflect the new dates once the details are confirmed,” it said, referring to the selection of Singapore athletes for the Games.

Deputy secretary of the Thai Olympic Committee Varin Tansuphasiri said the SEA Games will “definitely” not (be hosted) this year as scheduled in November.

“Vietnam wants to postpone the Games until next year, 2022,” said Tansuphasiri, who is also a Games Council member.

The postponement was due to the pandemic, he said, with Vietnam proposing to host the Games in April or May next year.

The Olympic Council of Malaysia also released a statement confirming the postponement. It said that the SEA Games Federation met on Thursday and agreed to move the Games to 2022.

It added that members “praised the work done thus far by (Vietnam) but took note of the current (COVID-19) conditions” there.

Source: CNA