SINGAPORE: Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said a majority of the sports during the 2017 SEA Games to be hosted by Malaysia will be held in Kuala Lumpur.
Khairy said although Kuala Lumpur will be the main venue, a number of events from the 39 sports contested may involve Sabah and Sarawak.
An announcement on the venues will be announced after the 2017 SEA Games organising committee meeting soon. He said all the existing venues in Bukit Jalil would be upgraded for the SEA Games while a new velodrome would be built in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan to host track cycling events.
Khairy said to prepare athletes for the 2017 SEA Games, athletes would undergo three phases of training from September 2015 to September 2016 and October 2016 to March 2017 with the first phase involving 2,310 athletes.
Malaysia emerged as the overall champion in 2001 after winning 111 gold, 98 silver and 68 bronze medals when hosting the games in Kuala Lumpur.
The National Sports Council will head preparations for the first phase and be assisted by the Olympic Council of Malaysia, National Sports Associations and the National Sports Institute.
Meanwhile, Malaysian contingent Chef-de-Mission for the SEA Games here, Norza Zakaria said officials who accompanied the athletes were not here on a ‘holiday’ but rather worked very hard to play a supporting role for the athletes.
“There is no such thing as a free trip or holiday for officials. They were working very hard to ensure athletes were in tip top condition. There was no report of any official shirking his or her duties,” he said.
- BERNAMA
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