Songkhla, one of three host cities for the forthcoming 33rd SEA Games, announced on Thursday that it is fully ready to co-host Southeast Asia’s most prestigious sporting event next month.
The 33rd edition of the biennial tournament is the seventh time the Games, which began as ‘The Southeast Asian Peninsular Games’ back in 1959, will take place in Thailand, where Songkhla was selected along with Bangkok and Chon Buri, to host the event from December 9th to 20th.
The southern city’s preparedness to host its first ever major international sporting event was confirmed at the press conference, with provincial authorities outlining progress less than a month before the Games get underway.
“We have got everything ready, whether it be the facilities, venues, accommodation, transportation or security measures, to ensure our welcome for athletes and visitors from other countries goes perfectly.
Hosting the Games is the result of cooperation by all sectors in the province and it’s the pride of all Songkhla people to bring fame to the country on ASEAN stage,” said Chucheep Thammaphet, Songkhla’s deputy governor.
Pornprasith Leksudh, the director of the Sports Authority of Thailand’s Region 4 office, revealed that Songkhla will stage competitions in football, kabaddi, chess, yudo, karate, wrestling, pencak silat, wushu, boxing and pentaque and he assured the readiness of all venues.
Songkhla Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) vice president, Sureephan Na Songkhla, reiterated that her office has left no stone unturned in organising the Games.
“We’ve sped up our efforts to get the venues, training grounds and spectator areas ready and up to the standard. We have also arranged dedicated routes for athletes and officials, to facilitate their travel.
“Moreover, the landscape around the stadia and public areas has been improved, to enhance the image of the province,” said the Songkhla PAO vice president.
Songkhla authorities have also lined up special events, including the ‘SEA Games Torch Relay’ run at Tinsulanonda Stadium on Nov 16th and the ‘SEA Games Park’ at Central Hat Yai shopping mall between December 7th and 11th, to raise public awareness.
