“Have money, will travel.”

Richie Garcia, the chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), has revived the scheme, “Have money, will travel,” for the next SEA Games which will be held in Myanmar in 2013.

In explaining his move to adopt anew his “Have money, will travel” scheme, Richie said the PSC will accredit athletes who need international exposure, including the SEA Games, but at their own expense.

“But, of course, they can only be considered again if they meet the qualifying standards of their respective sports,” Richie said.

“If un-accredited athletes qualified for the Games can find sponsors, they are welcome to represent the country in Myanmar,” Richie said.

He said there are now 148 athletes, including the 2011 medalists in Indonesia, who will be trained extensively for the Myanmar Games on top of receiving a P40,000 monthly allowance from the PSC.

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Source: Manila Standard Today

Myanmar is aiming for more medals at the 2013 SEA Games

Myanmar is aiming to achieve more medals in the 27th Southeast Asian Games when the country plays host to the regional sports gala for the third time next year. 

"Although we target more gold medals in the 27th SEA Games, we will compete the games with dignity," said U Tint San, Minister of Sports. 

The 27th SEA Games are to be held in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon and Mandalay regions and Ngwe Saung Beach from December 11 to 22, 2013. 

The SEA Games, held every two years since 1959, is the largest sports event in Southeast Asia and, at most, includes 32 disciplines. 

So far, Myanmar has hosted two times -- in 1961 and 1969. Myanmar won 104 medals in the 1961 SEA Games and 149 medals in 1969.

Source: COC

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Myanmar will hold a chess competition in Yangon in July as a test event for the 2013 Southeast Asian Games. 

The chess competition, which includes all categories to be included in the SEA Games, is scheduled to take place from July 22 to 29. 

The tournament will feature players from ten ASEAN member countries.

Source: COC

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Less events at the 2013 SEA Games than in previous years

The Olympic Council of Asia proposed a plan outlining the 28 sports that will be accommodated at the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar, 12 less than the 26th Games in Indonesia in 2011.

According to U Khin Maung Lwin, joint general secretary of the Myanmar Olympic Committee, they had selected sports that played to their strengths and were in keeping with their culture.

Lwin said he would present a comprehensive plan to the participating countries at a meeting at the end of April in Indonesia.

As host of the Games, Myanmar has the right to propose the number of sports and include national favourites. However, it also has to ensure the inclusion of two basic events in track-and-field and aquatic sports.

Gymnastics, an event Myanmar is weak in but one in which Viet Nam won 11 gold medals last year, along with beach volleyball and dance sport will be among those axed.

Lwin said beach volleyball and dance sport were cut because they were not in keeping with the customs of local women.

At the Indonesian Games, Myanmar finished seventh overall, with 16 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals. The top three places went to Indonesia , Thailand and Vietnam.

Source: Baomoi

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Referring to debate in Myanmar media circles about if there could be a "ceasefire" between the media and the authorities, Toe Zaw Latt, Thai bureau chief of the  Democratic Voice of Burma, said "There's a lot to be done, as to how the media, from within and outside, could operate in the coming years with the SEA Games in 2013, Asean chairmanship in 2014, and national elections in 2015."

Source: Bangkok Post

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Myanmar promises excellent organisation of the 2013 SEA Games

A Myanmarese top official vowed that his country would organize a better SEA Games in 2013 than the one held in Indonesia in 2011.

Myanmarese delegate chief Naw Tawng said: “Myanmar will do better than Palembang. We will do our best.”
Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, has been appointed as the host of the 27th SEA Games in 2013.

Naw said that there would be no accommodation troubles in 2013, as Naypyidaw has 25 hotels and Yangon has 40 hotels.

Around 7,000 athletes and 2,500 officials from Southeast Asian countries will participate in the 27th SEA Games.

Source: The Jakarta Post 

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Anny Pandini of Indonesia wants gold at the 2013 SEA Games

Judoka Ni Kadek Anny Pandini of Indonesia plans to win the gold medal in the 2013 SEA Games, which have been set to be held in Myanmar. She is coached by the Indonesian Perry Pantow.

Anny has recently graduated from high school and is planning to enroll in the National Police Academy in Magelang, Central Java.

Source: The Jakarta Post

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Malaysian Elyone Matin prepares for the 2013 SEA Games

Malaysian Elyone Matin, a multiple gold medallist in the Commonwealth Games, has been his daughter's coach since she was seven and still trains under him and also China coach Lin Xinhui.

   Elyone's Sea Games debut didn't turn out to be fruitful as she had hoped as she finished sixth with a lift of 77kg in the snatch and 90kg in the clean and jerk for a combined total of 167kg to equal her personal best in the women's 58kg.

     Elyone feels she has gained good experience and has two years to improve before mounting a stronger challenge in the 2013 Myanmar Games.

   "I am lucky that my father was a successful weightlifter and I was able to learn from him early but I am not good enough to be like him. I still have to improve a lot," said said the 21-year-old Elyone.

   "If I can train harder, I will have a chance in 2013. I have to close the gap on the Thai lifters.

   "It's not easy to win medals in the Sea Games as there are a lot of Olympic class weightlifters but the competition will help our athletes improve. Elyone has a long way to go but she have the potential," said Matin.

Source: New Straits Times

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Philippines women's basketball team has high hopes for the 2013 SEA Games

The Discovery Perlas Pilipinas women's basketball team failed in their mission to win the country's first gold medal in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games women's basketball tournament, but the squad is hoping to build on their experience for the 2013 Games in Myanmar.


For coach Haydee Ong, Discovery Perlas' strong performance in the 2011 SEA Games proves that the Filipino cagebelles are now a force to contend with in women's basketball.

"We believe in ourselves that we are legitimate contenders in the Southeast Asian Games," Ong said. "They will not treat us as a 'Team B' anymore. We are a team to beat in the SEA Games."

Ong adds that the team will continue to work hard for the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar.

The Philippine women's team also won the silver medal in the 1995 Games.

Source: ABS CBN News

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Myanmar will do better than Indonesia at the 2013 SEA Games

A leading Myanmar sports chief has criticized Indonesia's handling of the Southeast Asian Games vowing his nation will do better as hosts of the competition in 2013.

The run-up to Indonesia's Games, co-hosted by Palembang and Jakarta, was peppered with issues including delays in building venues and struggles to secure enough accommodation for athletes and officials.

Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw will host the next SEA Games in 2013, 44 years after the country last held the event, and a senior sports official pledged to learn from Indonesia's mistakes.

"Myanmar will do better, maybe better than Palembang. We will try our best," Naw Tawng, Myanmar's chef-de-mission at the Games, was quoted as saying in a rare swipe at the Indonesian organisers.

"We observed how to operate and do the opening and closing ceremonies, and secondly, for all the sports. Thirdly, (areas like) the accommodation and transportation."

The former Myanmar Football Federation general-secretary said issues at the at the 40,000-capacity Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium during the opening ceremony pointed to wider organisational problems.

"There were no ushers. The VIP and public entrances at the main stadium in Palembang were the same. It was very confusing after the opening ceremony and not safe," he said.

Naw Tawng also promised accommodation would not be an issue in 2013, with around 25 hotels in Naypyidaw and a further 40 in Yangon able to handle the visitors.

Around 7,000 athletes and 2,500 supporting officials from 11 nations are expected to descend on reclusive Myanmar for the 2013 Games.

Indonesian Games organizers have admitted they struggled to be ready for the competition but blame a government failure to release key funds to complete building work.

Source: GMA Network

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