Courtesy: Nhan Dan


Ho Chi Minh City begins prep for Indoor Games

Ho Chi Minh City is actively preparing for the third Asian Indoor Games to be held in Vietnam later this year and promoting the event among residents and expatriates.

The Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism said on March 24 the city organising committee has established 11 sub-committees to handle various areas like security, transportation and health.

A 2.5 km march is planned on March 29 with around 10,000 participants to draw the attention of city residents and international tourists to the Games.

Pham Quang Ban, the department’s deputy director, said upgrades to competition venues would be finished in the middle of August.

Nearly 2,000 volunteers and 500 fans will be selected and trained, according to the personnel sub-committee.

The media sub-committee said a media centre to be set up at the Phu Tho Gymnasium will allow journalists to get up-to-date information, photos, and results from all the events from Ho Chi Minh City and locations nationwide.

Nguyen Thanh Rum, director of the department, said the city will receive about 126 officials, 1,349 athletes and 204 referees.

The city will stage eight sports - futsal (men and women), muay Thai, three-a side basketball (men and women), traditional Vietnamese martial arts or Vovinam (combat and performance), billiard&snooker, bowling, kick boxing, and lion and dragon dancing, at 10 venues.

The remaining 12 sports will be held in Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Quang Ninh and Bac Ninh in the north.

Jujitsu and belt wrestling will be demonstration sports.

The opening ceremony for the games, featuring 20 sports and 45 countries and territories, is at Hanoi’s 40,000-seat My Dinh National Stadium on October 30, while Quan Ngua Sports Centre will host the closing ceremony on November 8.

Last week, the organising committee from the National Sports Administration checked competition venues and preparations in provinces throughout the country.

The leadership of participating countries will meet in Hanoi in September to finalise Games’ preparations, said Vietnam Olympic Committee vice chairman and general secretary, Hoang Vinh Giang.(VNA)






Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com