KUCHING: All 10 sports originally scheduled in Songkhla for the 33rd SEA Games have been moved to Bangkok due to severe flooding in the southern province, Thai media reported.
Men’s football, judo, kabaddi, chess, pencak silat, karate, wrestling, wushu, petanque and muaythai – events set to take place in Songkhla alongside Bangkok and Chon Buri from Dec 9, will now be hosted entirely in the capital.
Preparations in Songkhla were disrupted by some of the worst floods in decades, raising concerns over venue readiness, athlete safety, and the potential spread of diseases.
Chalitrat Chandrubeksa, deputy secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand (NOCT), was quoted by the Thai media saying:
“After talks between Chaiyapak Siriwat, CEO of the SEAGF Office, the SEAGF Council, and Tourism and Sports Minister Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, all parties agreed to relocate the events.
“Several participating countries had raised concerns about the readiness of venues and potential health risks, which influenced the decision.”
Chaiyapak will formally notify the SEA Games Organising Committee on Thursday, with briefings to the NOCT to follow.
Sports associations are now tasked with securing alternative venues in Bangkok, while measures to compensate teams already booked in Songkhla are under consideration.
However, it is understood that the Olympic Council of Malaysia has yet to receive official confirmation of the news as of date.
