SEA Games to open at three venues: Imran

JAKARTA (Agencies): Organizing Committee of the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games plan to create history in the biennial event by staging the opening ceremony simultaneously in three cities.

The organizers deputy chairman Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar said on Tuesday that the opening would take place at the 100,000-seat national stadium in Bukit Jalil, Penang and Johor Baharu.

"With the modern technology that we have now, all three venues will be in contact with each other during the opening ceremony. Those here in Kuala Lumpur could see what happens in Penang or Johor Baharu," he was quoted by Bernama news agency as saying.

"But we will coordinate the ceremony from here as the main show would still be in the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Sept. 8. This will be the first time in SEA Games history that the opening ceremony is held in different venues."

Several big screens will be placed in the three venues to enable visitors to watch the ceremony live.

Imran said ceremonies in Penang and Johor Baharu would not burden the organizers as both cities administrations had agreed to bear the costs.

In contrast to the glamorous opening, the closing ceremony on Sept. 17 will only take place at the National Stadium.

"The closing ceremony would not be conducted simultaneously as it would not be practical as all events in Penang and Johor Baharu would finish earlier," he said as quoted by Berita Harian daily.

Meanwhile, the transportation committee had been asked to coordinate the public transport system during the Games and not only for the opening and the closing ceremonies.

"We have a very comprehensive report for the athletes' and officials' transportation. That aspect is extremely well handled and now we have requested the committee to look into the public transport needs not only for the opening and closing ceremonies but to and from the other venues," Imran said.

In Penang, as part of the Games torch run, Malaysia's swimmer Abdul Malik Mydin will cross the sea from the Bagan jetty on the mainland to Pulau Aman, about 11 kilometers away, pulling a contraption with the torch on it.

State Youth and Sports Information and Unity Committee chairman Jahara Hamid said the swimming event for the SEA Games torch run would take place on May 4.

"The Penang torch run organizing committee was also making efforts to get Abdul Malik's upcoming feat into the Malaysia Book of Records," she was quoted by Bernama as saying.

Abdul Malik said: "I have to be on the lookout for jellyfish during the swim which I hope to complete in three to four hours."

The former national cyclist, who competed between 1993 and 1997, had successfully swam across the Strait of Penang on August 21, 1999.

Jahara said in the swimming event of the torch run, Abdul Malik would be accompanied by 20 kayaks and fishing boats.

The Games will feature 32 sports and offer 391 gold medals. It is the second biggest biennial event after the 1997 Jakarta Games which offered more than 400 golds.