Hannah: NSC monitoring Songkhla flood situation, athletes’ safety comes first

PUTRAJAYA: The National Sports Council (NSC) are closely monitoring the flood situation in Songkhla, which could affect several venues at the 2025 Thailand SEA Games from Dec 9-20.

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh (pic) said a special monitoring team have been deployed after the situation in Songkhla was reported to be increasingly worrying, with critical sports facilities affected and at risk of being moved should water levels continue to rise. 

“We have accurate information from people on the ground, because the monitoring team were sent immediately to assess the level of damage and risk to athletes,” she told a media conference here yesterday.

Hannah said the NSC are in close contact with the Games secretariat in Thailand to obtain the latest development regarding the affected locations.

She reiterated that the safety of national athletes and officials remained the ministry’s top priority.

“I have contacted the Foreign Ministry regarding the safety issue and, for now, we will continue to get their views before leaving.

“For now, give us some time to contact the Games Secretariat,” she said.

Hannah said that Songkhla is designated only for combat sports, and the location reported to be affected is for football.

“We must give Thailand some time because during this disaster period, many preparations and rescue works are being carried out there. So, we should not put too much pressure on them.

“Let them (Thailand) deal with their rescue operations first. However, what is important is that the NSC are in close contact with the Games secretariat there,” she said.

Asked if the national contingent will travel to Songkhla by bus for the SEA Games, Hannah said the plan will be changed if necessary for the sake of the athletes’ safety.

“If we cannot go there by bus, we will find another way,” she said.

The media had reported that the Tinsulanonda Stadium, which is the men’s football venue for Group B, involving Malaysia, Vietnam and Laos, was hit by floods and there is a possibility that it might be moved to Bangkok. — Bernama