Thailand To Host Sea Games In 2007

Thailand to host Games in 2007

HANOI: The 24th SEA Games in 2007 are likely to return to Thailand after a meeting of the general assembly of the SEA Games Federation Council members from 11 countries at the Daewoo Hotel in Hanoi yesterday.

Prof Charoen Wattanasin, one of the Thai members of the Federation Council, revealed after the meeting that the next SEA Games will take place in Manila, the Philippines, with the competition dates yet to be confirmed. Singapore is due to host the 24th Games in 2007. However its national stadium, according to Charoen, will be pulled down and re-built in the near future.

“I don’t think the construction of Singapore’s National Stadium can be finished in time to host the SEA Games. The meeting then gave Thailand the green light to host the SEA Games in 2007. Burma and Laos will be the respective hosts of the following SEA Games,” Charoen said.

“If possible I would like the 2007 SEA Games to take place in the country, perhaps in the southern provinces. Bangkok is suitable only for bigger events like the Asian Games,” he said.

--The Nation, Hanoi 2003-12-10