Budgets for SEA Games and ParaGames cut due to coronavirus

The Vietnam delegation at the 30th SEA Games opening ceremony in the Philippines in 2019 (Photo: VNA)

Both events have had their organising budgets slashed as the Government redirects resources to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has been assigned to approve a plan to host these events in the Hanoi and surrounding provinces. An organising committee was expected to be set up in February and the first meeting was to be held in March or April.

However, with the whole nation focusing on fighting the pandemic, most activities concerning sports have been delayed, meaning the organising committee has not been established and no meeting has been held.

The plan has not been approved because the budget for organising the event and upgrading facilities has been slashed.

The expense to organise the events has been cut almost in half to 1 trillion VND (42.5 million USD), about 900 billion VND (38.2 million USD) less than the original budget.

The expense to upgrade facilities for the events has also been cut from 805 billion VND to 600 billion VND (34.2 - 25.5 million USD).

It is the second time will Vietnam host a SEA Games, scheduled for November 21 to December 2. The ParaGames will run from December 14-21./.

VNA