MOM Wants Convention To Discuss SEA Games Events

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 (Bernama) -- The Olympic Council of Malaysia (MOM)wants the SEA Games Federation (SGF) to hold a convention soon to discuss sport events to be contested at SEA Games.

Its honorary secretary, Datuk Sieh Kok Chi, said this was necessary following the tendency of the host country of the biennial sports meet to introduce new events to ensure their domination and be the overall winner at the games.

"The last time the SGF convention was held to discuss the matter was 20 years ago in Bangkok, Thailand.

"After that, the host country is free to enter the events to be contested, resulting in many new events entered for the sports meet," he told Bernama here on Friday.

For example, in 2003, host Vietnam introduced fin swimming, muay thai, shuttlecock jiggling and the traditional boat race.

The events were also contested in Manila, the Philippines in 2005, Korat in Thailand (2007) and in Vientiane, Laos, recently.

Meanwhile, Indonesia, which is offering 37 events for the 2011 edition, will also include three new sports - wall climbing, roller-blade and kempo (an art of self-defence which originates from Japan and involves the use of bamboo swords).

Sieh said MOM would suggest to SGF for SEA Games host country to only offer the 20 mandatory sports which were also contested at the Olympics and Asia games and 10 other events.

"Sports which are contested at the Olympics should be offered at all SEA Games meet, while other events, like traditional sports, be held on rotation basis, like every four years," he added.

-- BERNAMA