KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 (Bernama) -- Preparations for the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia is expected to start early although the Laos SEA Games had just ended three days ago.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek who has directed the National Sports Council (NSC) to start preparations early, said since Indonesia are expected to host the 2011 SEA Games in June, there would only be 18 months before the next SEA Games.
"Furthermore, we have to start preparing all the logistics involved, including the delegation of duties for officers involved since the Games will be hosted at four main venues," he told reporters after chairing the NSC's Board meeting here on Monday.
Indonesia which has a population of 222 million are said to have scheduled the Games at four venues - Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung and Semarang.
Ahmad Shabery said the meeting also adopted a proposal to take a different approach since other countries have managed to achieve a better ranking in the Laos SEA Games.
"It must be given proper attention because it is what the people want. Like football being the most popular sport, we need to defend the gold medal. We have also won the football gold in the 1979 Jakarta SEA Games," he said.
Meanwhile, NSC director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong said preparations for the 2011 SEA Games would start soon.
He added that since the allocation for the NSC had been reduced, the council would be prudent in their spending.
"Though we will be prudent, sports that did well in Laos, like boxing and silat will be allocated additional funds for their preparations. It was also agreed during the meeting to send 12 coaches for a one year stint in Canada as part of preparations for the 2012 London Olympics," he said.
He added that though NSC has yet to identify the 12 coaches, there was a possibility that the coaches would be among those involved in the Road To London 2012 programme involving badminton, archery, cycling and diving.
-- BERNAMA
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