The sport sector plans a budget of 1,757 billion VND (about 78 million USD) for the organisation of the 2021 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Tran Duc Phan, deputy head of the National Sports Administration, was quoted as saying in the Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper.

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The figure is part of a SEA Games hosting scheme built by the administration. The scheme has received approval of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and been submitted to the government for consideration.

The organisation cost is calculated based on the supposition that Ha Noi is selected to be the games’ main venue.

The expenses are divided into two parts, of which, 803 billion VND (36 million USD) will be spent on repairing and upgrading current sports facilities in Ha Noi and the remaining 954 billion VND (42 million USD) is for paying other organisational costs.

Once approved by the government and the Politburo, Viet Nam will officially apply to the Southeast Asian Games Federation next April to be host of the region’s biggest sport event in 2021.

The country plans to organise competitions in 30-36 sports, focusing on those featured at the Olympic and Asian Games.

Previously Viet Nam hosted the 22^nd SEA Games in 2003.

Earlier this year, the 28^th SEA Games was organised in Singapore with a total cost of 324 million SGD (230 million USD).

The biennial event will be held next in Malaysia in 2017, and in the Philippines in 2019.

(Source: VNA)