Agreed at the SEAGF meeting:
Singapore to host 2015 SEA Games
Malaysia to stage the 2017 regional meet
Brunei has agreed in principle to host the 2019 SEA Games
THE Southeast Asian (SEA) Games are set to return to Brunei in 2019, two decades after the Sultanate first hosted the regional multi-sport event in 1999.
As per discussion during the SEA Games Federation (SEAGF) meeting in Myanmar last weekend, Brunei which was represented by the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BNOC) has agreed in principle to host the 2019 SEA Games, which will be the 30th edition of the biennial competition,
Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi was quoted as saying in Malaysian national news agency Bernama that the country is prepared to host the Games in 2017 after Singapore takes its turn in 2015 and Myanmar in 2013.
"Then (2017) should be Brunei's turn, but the Sultanate wants to host the 2019 Games instead of the 2017 SEA Games," said the OCM honorary secretary, who was also present at the meeting.
"So, Malaysia is willing to be the host for the 2017 Games," he added during the Bernama interview.
Though there has been talk amongst the local sports community that Brunei might host the SEA Games in 2015 or 2017, last week's meeting means that Bruneians will have to wait a few more years to welcome the prestigious meet to its shores.
Brunei ended last year's SEA Games in Indonesia with four silver and seven bronze medals, the first time the country failed to win a gold medal since the 2001 edition in Kuala Lumpur.
A total of 21 sports were contested during the 1999 SEA Games, during which Brunei recorded its best-ever finish after picking up four gold, 12 silver and 31 bronze medals and ending seventh in the field of 10 teams.
Thailand were crowned champions with 65 gold medals, followed by Malaysia on 57 and Indonesia on 44.
According to Malaysian daily The Star, last
week's meeting also discussed the number of sports to be contested in Myanmar next year.
The plan is to have 32 sports, but that number could rise if Myanmar chooses to accept recommendations by the other countries.
A total of 31 sports have already been identified for the 2013 Games: aquatics, athletics, archery, basketball, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, canoeing, chess, cycling, equestrian, football, golf, gymnastics, judo, karate, rowing, sepaktakraw, shooting, sailing, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, body-building, muay thai, pencak silat and traditional boat race.
The SEAGF sports committee has recommended that Myanmar consider seven other sports: fencing, fin swimming, hockey, petanque, soft tennis, tarung derajat and vovinam.
It is understood that the number of sports to be contested should be finalised by December.The Brunei Times
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Feel free to comment on this article using your Facebook account. By submitting your comment, you agree to the Terms and Conditions for the use of this comments feature, as stated here.