Thailand is preparing contingency plans and assessing conditions on a daily basis in case the worsening flood crisis in Hat Yai does not improve, which could necessitate the relocation to Bangkok and Chon Buri of all 10 SEA Games sports competitions scheduled to be held there.
Hat Yai has now been flooded for four consecutive days, affecting more than 690,000 people in all 16 districts.
With the Games due to start on December 9, Songkhla is being ravaged by one of the worst floods in decades, raising concerns over its ability to host the first major international sporting event in the province, particularly regarding the preparedness of each venue.
On Tuesday, the Cabinet declared Songkhla to be in a state of emergency, in response to the flood crisis.
Songkhla is scheduled to host men’s football, international chess, judo, kabaddi, karate, boxing, pencak silat, pétanque, wrestling and wushu, with 109 gold medals at stake.
Chalitrat Chandrubeksa, deputy secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, said last night that, even if the water recedes, it is still uncertain whether travel from the airport to the sports venues in Songkhla will be possible.
He added that, if the host province is changed, many countries will be affected due to flights being already booked. His authority is closely monitoring the situation and reiterated that it will reassess conditions day by day.
If the situation does not improve, all 10 sports will be moved to Bangkok and Chon Buri, Chalitrat said.
Earlier, Sports Authority of Thailand governor Dr. Gongsak Yodmani confirmed a venue change for the Muay Thai competition, from the Southern Major City Stadium to Prince of Songkla University due to the severe flooding.
The switch came yesterday morning after the Southern Major City Stadium was heavily flooded, forcing organisers to move the event to an international convention hall at Prince of Songkla University, Gongsak said.
Gongsak said that, for now, no further venue changes in Songkhla are planned, despite most districts being declared disaster zones.
“For other venues in Songkhla, there should not be any problem. For instance, the Jiranakorn Gymnasium, the venue for the pencak silat competition, may still have some floodwater, but it should not affect preparations.
“As for the pétanque court at the Tinsulanonda Stadium, we are considering installing covers or tents to deal with expected rainfall during the competition,” he said.
Tourism and Sports Minister Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn had earlier insisted that the severe flooding ravaging Songkhla would not affect the province’s hosting of the upcoming 33rd SEA Games next month.
