Minister praises Chon Buri’s readiness for SEA Games

Tourism and Sports Minister Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn has confirmed Chon Buri’s readiness to co-host the upcoming 33rd SEA Games next month, following his inspection trip to the eastern province on Friday.

Chon Buri is one of three host cities, along with Bangkok and Songkhla, for region’s biennial sporting extravaganza, which will take place between Dec 9th and 20th.

Accompanied by executives of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) and other relevant officials, the minister first inspected Thailand’s sailing team’s training at the Samudarakila Yachting Centre and Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district.

Then, the minister’s delegation visited the Chon Buri stadium, in Muang district, which is a venue for women’s football matches, before heading to check on the readiness of the National Sports University Chon Buri Campus, which will also host women’s football, as well as outdoor hockey and floorball.

The minister rounded off the trip by inspecting the Chon Buri Sports School, a venue for weightlifting and Teqball, one of the demonstration sports at the Games.

The sports minister expressed his satisfaction with the preparations in Chon Buri and has no doubt that the province will succeed in co-hosting the Games.

“The Samudarakila Yachting Centre is ready for the Game’s sailing competition. There will be a pre-SEA Games event (running from Friday to Sunday) to rehearse everything. The facilities at the site have also been revamped for the Games, just like at Ocean Marina.

“There’s nothing to worry in Chon Buri. I’m certain the competition will proceed without any problem. I would like to invite Thai fans to turn out in great numbers at the venues. Certainly, there will be a lot of foreign visitors coming to Chon Buri during the Games,” said Atthakorn.

Meanwhile, after attending a meeting with the SEA Games Federation Council, to follow up Thailand’s preparations in Bangkok on Friday, Dr. Gongsak Yodmani, the SAT’s governor, said that there remain only “small details” that needed to be attended to in the final phase of the country’s preparations for the Games.

“Overall, all three host cities are ready. Only small issues needing to be fixed at a few venues. For instance, seating areas need to be improved at a venue for women’s football in Chon Buri, while air conditioners will be installed in the athletes’ warming-up zone at a weightlifting venue,” said the SAT governor.