KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 (Bernama) -- The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) expressed confidence that Myanmar can be a successful host of the 2013 SEA Games although regarded as a poor country.
OCM honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said this was despite critics raising doubts of Myanmar's ability to host the games.
He added that it was common for certain countries to be skeptical whenever a games was awarded to a certain country.
"When China was picked to host the 2008 Olympics, there was negative talk, but such skepticism was proved wrong by the host," he told Bernama.
Kok Chi said if Myanmar succeeded in hosting the SEA Games without any hitches, it would help elevate the image of the country internationally.
He added that OCM would also help Myanmar financially since the country had made an appeal for such assistance.
Kok Chi said Myanmar were currently developing a new township in the country and hope to take the opportunity of hosting the SEA Games in 2013, to build sporting facilities there.
"They (Myanmar) also hope to expedite the building of venues and facilities for the games," he said.
Myanmar, were awarded the host job for the 27th SEA Games during last week's Southeast Asian Games Federation (SGF) council meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, host of the 2011 SEA Games.
The last time Myanmar hosted the games was in 1969 when the country was known as Burma while the games was known as SEAP Games.
Myanmar are expected to host 27 sports.
-- BERNAMA
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