SEA Games To Take Place As Scheduled : Sports Minister

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng said the  26th SEA Games will  be held in Palembang and Jakarta as  scheduled starting November 11, 2011.

"Although some venues are still being finished. I am optimistic they will all be ready ahead of the SEA GAmes opening," he said after meeting with House Commission X here on Wednesday.

He said he had received reports that some of the venues were now still being finished but they would all be ready ahead of the event's opening.

Asked about some quarters' worry about the readiness of the venues for the games, Andi only said the event would be carried out as scheduled.

"The schedules for the games' opening and competitions remain as they are. There are no changes in the schedules for the events in Jakarta and Palembang," he said.

On complaints about the budget from the organizing committee (Inasoc), the minister said his office had disbursed the budget and discussed it at a coordination meeting here on Tuesday (Oct 4) evening.

He said procurement of goods for the implementation of the Southeast Asian Games was being carried out by Inasoc.

Asked whether his office saw any possible constraint in the games' organization,  Andi said it was mainly smoke from forest fires in South Sumatra.

"But the smoke will be cleared by artificial rain," he said.

Andi said he would be responsible if the event failed. "If there are any obstacles in the implementation, I will be responsible," he said.

The competitions will take place in Jakarta and Palembang and be participated in by athletes from 11 countries from November 11 to 22, 2011. (*/T007)