KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15, 2007 - At least 12 events face the axe from next month’s Southeast Asian Games in Thailand because not enough competitors have registered to take part.
Games organising committee secretary-general Charoen Wattanasin said only two countries have entered athletes for the events and the rules require at least four countries for them to go ahead.
We have set the rules and we should follow it,'' he told the Bernama news agency. As we have 12 events with only two countries, sports associations are arguing that there are at least four athletes registered and the events should go ahead. They have asked me and I have said no.’’
The events set to go are: skeet, trap and double trap in shooting, women’s windsurfing, women’s 48kg and over 76kg weightlifting, equestrian individual and team, women’s squash, Muaythai bantamweight and lightweight, and women’s downhill cycling.
The organising committee are set to meet on Friday to discuss the fate of the events, Bernama said.
The Games run from December 6 to 15 in Nakhon.
More than 7,000 athletes and officials are confirmed with Thailand sending the largest contingent of 1,389, followed by Malaysia with 1,114. The smallest is seven, from Timor Leste.
Eleven countries are taking part: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam.