COVID-19 Cases Increase 3 Times, Vietnam Plans To Postpone SEA Games To Next Year

JAKARTA - Vietnam plans to postpone this year's Southeast Asian Games, when the country is still grappling with the COVID-19 outbreak.

The SEA Games will be held in Hanoi and 11 other locations - some at the epicenter of the new wave of COVID-19 - from November 21 to December 2.

However, Vietnam is reportedly planning to postpone the 31st SEA Games next year.

"The Vietnam Olympic Committee, the host of the 31st SEA Games, has sent letters to countries containing information about the proposal to postpone the 31st SEA Games until July 2022 due to the complicated situation of the COVID-19 pandemic," according to Vietnamese media, quoted by Antara. from AFP on Wednesday.

The SEA Games board, based in Bangkok, will meet to make a decision.

Vietnam's Olympic Committee confirmed to AFP that the meeting would take place Wednesday.

COVID-19 cases have more than tripled in Vietnam since April to more than 9,000.

Although the numbers are low compared to most of its Southeast Asian neighbours, Vietnam's per capita vaccination rate is the lowest in the region and among the lowest in Asia, according to an AFP tally.

The SEA Games events will take place in some of the provinces worst affected by COVID-19, including Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, in the northeast of the country.

A badminton venue in Bac Giang has been converted into a field hospital.

Vietnam previously hosted a multi-sport competition in 2003. Vietnam has allocated a budget of around US$69 million or around Rp.983 billion for the SEA Games.

The SEA Games are expected to attract nearly 20,000 participants, including some 7,000 athletes, from 11 countries.