Rival Games planned ahead of Chiang Mai

Rival Games planned ahead of Chiang Mai

JAKARTA (JP): The 18th Southeast Asian Games may not turn out
as planned with four of the region's countries considering the
set up of a rival sporting meet to contest the events that have
controversially been dropped from the Games.

Rio Tambunan, a foreign affairs official of the Indonesian
National Sports Council (KONI), said yesterday that Indonesia,
Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam have agreed to stage a
miniaturized SEA Games in Hanoi in November, just a few weeks
before the region's biggest sporting event which runs from Dec. 9
through 17 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Wrestling, karate and wushu were excluded at the last minute
during the SEA Games organizing committee meeting in November
last year. They will, however, make an appearance in the Hanoi
sporting meet.

"It's just a political maneuver to force the organizing
committee to reconsider its decision," Tambunan said.

The committee decided to stage 28 full-fledged medal events at
the Games. The three sports were dropped from the list after the
host's proposal to include traditional Thai-boxing was turned
down.

Tambunan said the Malaysian Olympics Committee had even
suggested earlier that a three-sport competition be held
concurrently with the SEA Games.

Referring to an article on the SEA Games Federation rules,
secretary general of the Malaysian Olympics Committee Sieh Kok
Chi said in his letter to his Southeast Asian counterparts last
month that certain sports in the Games could be held outside the
host country.

"The Hanoi sporting meet will be a part of the 18th SEA
Games," Tambunan quoted Sieh as saying.

Indonesia, attempting to bring wrestling back into SEA Games
competition after eight-years, will start a campaign to persuade
Singapore, Brunei and Cambodia to join the Hanoi competition.

"If a majority throws its weight behind our plan, we believe
Thailand will make the three events eligible for the Games,"
Tambunan was quoted by Antara as saying.

Thailand has officially invited nine Southeast Asian countries
to join the 18th SEA Games, which will be held for the first time
in a non-capital city. Chiang Mai was named the host-city to help
it celebrate its 700th anniversary this year.

Wrestling made its last appearance in the 1987 Games here in
Jakarta, when Indonesia romped home with a golden clean sweep.
Wushu, a Chinese martial art, was part of competition during the
last two meets in 1991 and 1993. Karate will miss the Games for
the first time.

Both wrestling and karate are traditionally medal events in
the Asian Games.

Thailand has boasted that it will take at least 100 gold
medals and secure the overall championship title it won at home
ten years ago. (amd)