KUALA LUMPUR: After a lapse of 16 years since hosting the 2001 SEA Games, Malaysia will play host to the 29th SEA Games which will be held in 2017.
The SEA Games Federation (SGF) meeting in Myanmar last weekend confirmed Malaysia’s turn to host the regional biennial event in 2017 should there be no other countries willing to bid for the host job.
Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi, who attended the meeting, said after Myanmar became the host for the 2013 SEA Games, Singapore will host the 2015 Games.
“Then should be Brunei’s turn but the Sultanate state wants to host the 2019 games instead of the 2017 SEA Games. So, Malaysia is willing to be the host for the 2017 Games,” he told Bernamatoday.
Kuala Lumpur last played host for the SEA Games in 2001 when Malaysia became the overall champion with 111 gold medals followed by Thailand (103) and Indonesia (72).
Since the inaugural SEA Games hosted by Bangkok, Thailand in 1959, Malaysia had hosted the 1977, 1989 and 2001 SEA Games.
The only Asean member who has not hosted the SEA Games is Cambodia but the country’s has offered itself to be the host for the 2021 SEA Games. – Bernama