HCM City, Vietnam’s largest economic hub, will enter a bid to win the right to host the 31st SEA Games in 2021 (Photo: VNA).

The People’s Committee now has to submit the bid to the Government, which will send it on the city’s behalf.

The city plans to earmark around 15.6 trillion VND (nearly 700 million USD) for the games, including 8.13 trillion VND (360 million USD) for land and infrastructure at the 180-hectare Rach Chiec Sports Complex in District 2.

Another 6.57 trillion VND (29 million USD) will be spent to repair and upgrade existing sports complexes in the city and the neighboring provinces of Binh Duong and Dong Nai, which will host some of the events.

The remaining amount will be used to run the event.

The city plans to raise 5.1 trillion VND (227 million USD) from sponsors.

Around 3.13 trillion VND (140 million USD) will be spent to build a major stadium at the Rach Chiec Sports Complex while the Phan Dinh Phung Sports Centre in District 3 will cost nearly 2 trillion VND (90 million USD).

The city expects revenues of 269 billion VND (12 million USD) from the games.

It does not plan to build dormitories for the athletes but will put them up in hotels.

The city has nearly 47,000 three- to five-star hotel rooms, Bình Dương province has 1,235.

The SEA Games is a biennial sporting competition involving the 11 countries in the Southeast Asian region.

The 31st edition, to be held in August 2021, would have 30-36 sports and attract 9,800 athletes, referees, officials and organizers.

Vietnam first hosted the event in Hanoi in 2003.

Source: VNA