Chiang Mai ready to host SEA Games<\/p>\n
By Robert Soelistyo<\/p>\n
CHIANG MAI, Thailand (JP): A smiling cat holding an umbrella
\nwill greet those arriving at Bangkok's Dong Muang International
\nAirport for the 18th Southeast Asian Games next month.<\/p>\n
Sawasdee, the name of the official SEA Games mascot, reflects
\nthe Thai character and the spirit of host city, Chiang Mai.<\/p>\n
The blue, yellow, black, green, red and white cat is also
\nsupposed to bring luck to the Games. The blue circle at the top
\nrepresents His Majesty the King, the inspiration of all Thais,
\nwhile the six gold rings stand for the six countries which
\nfounded the Golden Peninsula Games, or Southeast Peninsula Games
\n(SEAP).<\/p>\n
The SEAP Games were first hosted by Thailand in 1959. At that
\ntime there were only six participating countries: Myanmar, Laos,
\nMalaysia, Singapore, Vietnam (South) and Thailand.<\/p>\n
Beginning with the 9th SEAP Games, which were held in Malaysia
\nin 1977, the name was changed to SEA Games to include Indonesia
\nand the Philippines.<\/p>\n
This is the fifth time Thailand has hosted the games and it is
\nthe first time that a non-capital city has been allowed to
\norganize the Games.<\/p>\n
Participants will come from 10 Southeast Asian countries,
\nincluding Myanmar, Malaysia, Laos, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia,
\nBrunei Darussalam, Thailand, Philippines and Cambodia. Cambodia,
\nthe latest member country, will be participating in the Games for
\nthe first time.<\/p>\n
The SEA Games committee announced that not one of the 334
\nevents in this year's Games will be dropped from contention.<\/p>\n
The committee, headed by Santiparb Tejavanija, the Thai
\nNational Olympic Committee Treasurer, was working until the early
\nhours yesterday to organize the names of the athletes and their
\nevents.<\/p>\n
"It's good to learn that not one event will be dropped. This
\nis the first time we have witnessed such an inspiring situation,"
\nSantiparb said.<\/p>\n
At past Games, Santiparb added, "we have faced a few setbacks
\nand some events had to be scrapped. Chiang Mai is going to
\nwitness great competition."<\/p>\n
His Majesty the King has presented the flame for the SEA
\nGames. A beam reflected via ThaiCom Satellite at the Royal Palace
\nin Bangkok will light the flame at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in
\nChiang Mai, some 700 kilometers away. The flame will then be
\ncarried in a procession from Doi Suthep through the streets of
\nChiang Mai to the Three Kings Monument.<\/p>\n
In addition to the thrill and excitement of the competitions,
\nthe opening ceremony on Dec. 9 is highly anticipated.<\/p>\n
Eight-time champion Indonesia and favorite to top the overall
\nmedals tally again, has submitted an entry list of 691 athletes
\nand officials last Friday. Indonesia hopes to grab 30 percent of
\nthe 334 gold medals.<\/p>\n
"If Indonesia is going to win that many and Thailand plans to
\ncollect a bigger number than Indonesia, then there won't be any
\ngolds left for the other countries," Santiparb joked.<\/p>\n
Transportation<\/p>\n
Even with 10 flights a day between Bangkok and Chiang Mai,
\nserved by national flag carrier Thai International,
\ntransportation between the cities has been posing problems.<\/p>\n
Chiang Mai, second largest city after the capital and
\npotential tourist resort, is facing heavy air traffic almost
\neveryday.<\/p>\n
"During the SEA Games, Thai International plans to provide
\nseveral extra flights daily to help ease the air transportation
\nproblems," a Thai official at Chiang Mai airport said.<\/p>\n
Train users can reach Chiang Mai in 10 hours and 40 minutes
\nfor Bt400, with the first train leaving for Chiang Mai at 6.40
\na.m. and the last train at 10 p.m. Trains serve the route 10
\ntimes a day from Bangkok.<\/p>\n
Buses serve the two cities 16 times a day in just under 11
\nhours. The bus fare ranges from Bt190 and Bt470, depending on if
\nits air conditioned or not.<\/p>\n
The city of Chiang Mai, founded by King Mengrei Maharat, will
\ncelebrate its 700th anniversary in February next year. The Games
\nare in celebration of the 50th year of the coronation of his
\nMajesty the King Bhumipol Aduljadej on Dec. 5.<\/p>\n
Thailand has been more successful than Indonesia in becoming
\nthe host of Asian and Southeast Asian sports events, including
\nthe Asian Games and SEA Games.<\/p>\n
For the last 36 years it has hosted the SEA Games five times,
\nin 1959 (SEAP), in 1967, 1975, 1985 and 1995. The Asian Games
\nwere contested in Thailand in 1966 (after Jakarta 1962), 1970 and
\n1978. The continent's biggest sporting extravaganza will return
\nto Thailand in 1998.<\/p>\n
According to the committee, the Thais have been successful due
\nto their ability to attract the private sector and other sources
\nof financial support.<\/p>",
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