Malaysia among countries calling for Vietnam SEA Games to proceed

PETALING JAYA: The majority of SEA Games Federation (SEAGF) members are calling for the Vietnam SEA Games from Nov 21-Dec 2 to proceed as planned, despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a special virtual meeting held on Wednesday (June 9), the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) said they were among the eight nations who had opposed the proposal from the games' organising committee to postpone the 31st edition of the event to next year.

Many countries had already put in effort and investment to prepare athletes over the last two years, and 2022 is already packed with other major sporting events.

Malaysia will be competing in both the Hangzhou Asian Games and Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

"Due to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the region, it is the wish of the Organising Committee of Vietnam to host the 31st edition of the SEA Games in a safe and secure manner," said OCM in a statement.

OCM added that the SEAGF would work hand in hand with the games organising committee and come out with an amicable solution in a fortnight's time.

"The SEA Games Federation Office will work closely with the Organising Committee of Vietnam in the next two weeks for a solution to be tabled to the SEAGF Council for endorsement," it added.

Vietnam had on Tuesday (June 8) informed their counterparts about their intention to postpone the SEA Games, as the nation battles with a fresh Covid-19 wave.

The Games are slated to be held in Hanoi and 11 other locations where some of them are at the epicentre of the outbreak.

The worst affected provinces include Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, in the country's northeast.