SEA Games host site announces closure due to 'non-payment'

The crisis over the organization of the 33rd SEA Games by host Thailand continues to escalate as recently, a host venue announced it would close.

Petanque faces the risk of being postponed at SEA Games 33 - Photo: PTA

This shocking information was published by Khaosod newspaper on the evening of December 6, when Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University, one of the venues hosting the 33rd SEA Games, made a tough decision with the organizing committee.

"No payment, no deposit, no use of petanque court at SEA Games 33," Khaosod newspaper quoted the "ultimatum" that Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University gave to the organizing committee of SEA Games 33.

This university is located in Khlong Luang district, north of the Thai capital Bangkok, and is the venue for the petanque event of the 33rd SEA Games.

According to Khaosod newspaper, to serve the organization, the school has repaired the competition area, at a cost of about 400,000 baht (about 330 million VND).

The university asked the SEA Games organizing committee to pay at least the deposit, but to date they have not received any payment.

Finally, Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University expressed outrage and decided to "close the door" to the SEA Games organizing committee.

The petanque event will be held on December 10, one day after the opening ceremony. This move by Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University puts the sport at risk of being postponed. In the immediate future, athletes participating in the tournament will likely have no place to practice.

Of course, this issue will probably be resolved in the last 2 days before the opening of the SEA Games. But this is not the first time the SEA Games organizing committee has been accused of delaying money.

Over the past week, at least two partners of the 33rd SEA Games - including a group organizing events at the opening ceremony, and a construction contractor in Chonburi province (hosting more than 20 sports) - have accused the SEA Games organizing committee of being slow in paying.

After much controversy, the Director General of the Sports Authority of Thailand, Mr. Kongsak Yodmanee, spoke up, admitting that Thailand was having difficulty with its budget.

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HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/mot-dia-diem-dang-cai-sea-games-tuyen-bo-dong-cua-vi-khong-duoc-tra-tien-20251207004014616.htm