SEA Games Vietnam Implements Bubble System, Divided By 6 Clusters

SEA Games Hanoi 2021 (NOC Indonesia)

JAKARTA – The bubble system will be implemented at this year's SEA Games Hanoi to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The system will be divided into six clusters.

The confirmation regarding the bubble system was conveyed by the Secretary-General of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Ferry J Kono after attending a virtual meeting with the participating countries of the SEA Games.

"The athlete bubble system is divided by sport, country, and gender. One hotel will be occupied by the same sport, later the floors for male and female athletes will also be separated," explained Ferry in a statement received by VOI.

The committee will also conduct an antigen swab test regularly every three days as an early detection step. They will also provide medical facilities and personnel in every hotel occupied by athletes and teams.

However, Indonesia is still waiting for further clarification from the host. One of them is related to the technical manual which provides a detailed description of each sport.

"We asked several questions regarding the limits of naturalized players for basketball. Then regarding the latest Asian table tennis technical guidebook, the readiness of the organizing committee to prepare headquarters and medical rooms for the team of doctors," said Ferry.

He considered the host's readiness to be important because there will be as many as six clusters. Hanoi City will be the center, while the other five cities are Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, and Ha Nam.

“The city is very far from Hanoi, about 30 km - 150 km. We ask that it be emphasized in the guidebook which will be revised and hope that it can be sent to every Olympic committee soon," added Ferry.

The chairman of the Vietnam SEA Games Organizing Committee (VISGOC) plans to invite NOC representatives in Southeast Asia to see the readiness of facilities and infrastructure.

However, they still need to wait for the COVID-19 case situation in Vietnam to decline first.

This is Vietnam's first time holding the SEA Games after the last one in 2003. The plan is that the SEA Games will compete in 40 sports with 526 event numbers.

This biennial event is scheduled to take place from 12-23 May.