Athletes compete at the National Athletics Championship at the My Dinh Stadium in December. Pre-SEA Games athletics tournament will be held to test facilities and equipment for the 31st SEA Games. — VNS Photo Trieu Linh

In the past, Vietnam has finished in the top three overall in the medal count, at many previous SEA Games and this time around they expect nothing less.

Le Thi Hoang Yen, deputy director of the Vietnam Sport Administration, said: "Vietnam were in top three in many previous SEA Games.

“This year, as the hosts, our goal is the same. Apart from that, we will have to make sure a regional best fair-play event following an order from Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam.

"We will not try to earn gold medals at all costs. We will not follow a tradition of SEA Games of adding the hosts' strong sports which other countries are not familiar with in the competition list to grab as many titles as possible. We will strive for the highest position under fair conditions."

Yen said athletics and swimming were the disciplines in the past where Vietnam shined, and they hope for repeated success on home soil.

Runners Nguyen Thi Oanh and Pham Thi Hong Le and swimmers Nguyen Huy Hoang and Tran Hung Nguyen have set national records recently which are good signals for Vietnam to get high results in the 31st Games.

Vietnam will also try best to defend titles in the men's and women's football events.

Yen confirmed that SEA Games will be a warm up and preparation of Vietnamese athletes for the Asia's biggest event of 19th Asian Games (ASIAD) which is organised in Hangzhou, China, in September.

"Another goal of Vietnam is to at least maintain our results of athletics and swimming in the 2022 ASIAD, and if it is possible we can lift them to higher levels," said Yen.

"The SEA Games will be a rehearsal for ASIAD, winning at SEA Games will be a strong push for us at the ASIAD."

Almost 10,000 athletes, coaches, officials and referees will visit Vietnam from May 12-23 to compete in Hanoi and 11 surrounding cities and provinces.

My Dinh Stadium has been upgraded to host many activities including opening and closing ceremonies of the 31st SEA Games this May. — Photo nhandan.vn

At the Tuesday's meeting, Vietnam briefed delegations' representatives about key lines of organising and preparing activities as well as difficulties such as the ongoing pandemic.

Also discussed was information about pre-Games formalities and timelines, registration, transportation, competition venues, accommodation, logistics and medical and doping issues.

Competitors must have at least two vaccination shots before landing in Vietnam. They will be tested every 72 hours to ensure safety throughout the tournament.

There is no Athlete Village in these Games. All teams will stay in hotels and will be supported by about 3,000 volunteers. Everyone must follow the bubble model in training and competing and non-contact rules between delegations.

Organisers also said they have built different plans to open doors for supporters to the competition venues depending on the development of COVID-19.

Some pre-SEA Games competitions will be held to test facility, equipment and warm athletes up ahead of the Games.

The biennial biggest Games of the south eastern Asian region was originally slated in November 2021 but was rescheduled to this May due to coronavirus concerns.

The pandemic is still spreading complicated in the country especially in the capital city recently but all host cities and provinces have promised SEA Games will be organised safely and economically, and showed their great effort to make sure its success.

Source: Vietnam News

Vietnam confirms opening day of 31st SEA Games

The Government has officially approved the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s proposal to host the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Vietnam from May 12-23, 2022.