Members of the Southeast Asian Games have agreed to the request of Vietnam’s Organizing Committee for an extension on the fate of the regional meet this year.
In a meeting held Wednesday afternoon (Manila time), Vietnam had asked for two more weeks before a “definitive decision is taken.”
All representatives from each member nation will once again meet on July 8.
Two weeks ago, Vietnam, through its state media, announced that it plans to postpone the Games from November of this year to July of 2022 due to the rising coronavirus cases in the country.
“The Vietnam Olympics Committee, the host for SEA Games 31, has sent a letter to countries informing them of its proposal to postpone SEA Games 31 to July 2022 due to the complicated situation of the Covid-19 pandemic,” according to Phap Luat Online.
Virus cases have more than tripled in Vietnam since April to over 9,000. Although the number is low in comparison to most of its Southeast Asian neighbors, Vietnam’s vaccination rate per capita is the lowest in the region and among the lowest in Asia, according to reports.
Moreover, venues supposed to host events for the Hanoi Games are now under use as quarantine centers.
Vietnam has 40 events planned on its programme.
