The organisers of the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar have pledged to tighten security for the event after Yangon was hit by a series of bomb blasts this week, which reportedly killed two people and injured three others.On Monday evening, a home-made time bomb exploded on the ninth floor of the 22-storey Traders Hotel in Yangon and wounded a 43-year-old American woman. Hours later, another small bomb went off at a hotel restaurant near Mandalay.
About one million spectators are expected to fill the stadiums, multipurpose halls and swimming complexes in the cities of Yangon, Naypyitaw, Mandalay and Ngwe Saung Beach for the biennial event from Dec 11 to 22.
SEA Games Operation Committee Chairman Zaw Winn, who is also Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Sports, said: "The Ministry of Home Affairs will gather information and make security (arrangements) for the whole of Naypyitaw, Mandalay and other areas. We will be (increasing the level) of security for the SEA Games — not only for these areas but the whole country. I am confident security will be (fine) for the games."
Singapore's Chef de Mission at the games, Annabel Pennefather, said the Republic would do whatever is necessary to protect its contingent, which includes some 300 athletes.
"We are not panicking at the moment and there is not too much that we will be changing in our planning process for the Games until we get further updates from the authorities," she said.
"We continue to be guided by the relevant authorities and will do whatever is necessary to take all the precautions for our Singapore contingent.
"We are in touch with the Singapore Embassy in Myanmar and will be monitoring the developments in the country closely."
National swimmer Arren Quek said he is "not too worried" and believes the safety of the athletes "is in good hands".
He said: "It is a big event and I am sure it will be planned properly. Safety is also an individual responsibility, and I will not let this affect my performance. We will be looking out for one another when we are there."
Myanmar, despite political overhauls in the past two years, is still grappling with sporadic violence due to ethnic and religious tensions.
While the police had previously said such violence could be used to discredit the government before the games, the event's organising committee is determined not to let it ruin the biggest sports event that Myanmar will host since the last SEA Games in Rangoon in 1969.
Organisers said security measures at the Wunna Theikdi and Zayar Thiri sports complexes in Naypyitaw will include bag checks and X-ray scans. There will also be separate entrances for VIPs, athletes, officials and staff.
Over 5,000 athletes from 11 countries are expected to compete in 33 sports at the games, which starts with the opening ceremony at the Wunna Theikdi stadium on Dec 11. Yangon will host seven sports, including football, hockey and wrestling.
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