Ho Chi Minh City has proposed the construction of a VND3.45 trillion (US$152.1 million) stadium with a capacity of 50,000 seats, as part of its plan to host the 31st SEA Games in 2021.
The municipal Department of Culture and Sport has submitted its plan for hosting the 31st SEA Games to the Vietnam Sports Administration and local authorities for feedback, before presenting the proposal to the municipal Party Committee and the central government.
The South East Asian (SEA) Games is a biennial sporting competition held among 11 countries in the Southeast Asian region.
The 31st SEA Games will be the second time Vietnam has hosted the event, with the first one being in Hanoi in 2003.
In preparation for the event, the plan suggests the construction of the Rach Chiec Sports Complex in District 2.
The complex will include a central stadium with 50,000 seats, which will become ‘the heart’ of the games.
The capital needed for the central stadium alone is estimated at VND3.45 trillion (US$152.1 million), which will be funded by the private sector.
Aside from building the arena, Ho Chi Minh City will need over VND2.3 trillion ($101.4 million) to organize the event, of which VND1.347 trillion ($59.4 million) will be spent on upgrading the current sports infrastructure.
The southern hub is expected to earn some VND260 billion ($11.4 million) from the event.
The 31st SEA Games is anticipated to take place in August 2021 with the participation of nearly 20,000 people from 11 countries.
All athletes, coaches, referees, and officials will stay at hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring Binh Duong Province, the plan said, adding that the southern hub currently has 1,897 hotels with over 47,000 rooms.
Dormitories of local universities can also be used to accommodate participants in the case of insufficient rooms.
The preparation and expenditure will be divided into phases running from 2016 to 2021, with expenses funded by the city budget and the private sector.
Existing sports facilities in Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces in the key economic zone in the south will be utilized to follow the motto of an economical SEA Games.
According to city authorities, organizing the games will be an opportunity to develop the local sports sector and relevant facilities in Ho Chi Minh City.
Binh Duong will also assist the southern city by hosting several events.
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