World media to be pampered

HA NOI — All preparations for media outlets have been completed for the upcoming third Asian Indoor Games (AIG) later this month, said Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tran Chien Thang at the second AIG Media Conference yesterday in Ha Noi.

Thang said Viet Nam has made great efforts to ensure all journalists who come to cover the Games will be satisfied with the available infrastructure and services.

The key media centre has been set up in the VKO building at the Giang Vo Exhibition Centre. Reporters will be able to access up-to-date information, photos and results from all sporting events. All Games information will also be available on the official website, www.vaigoc2009.com.

Another media centre will be located in HCM City.

Both centres will also provide media representatives services such as healthcare, foreign exchange, workspace and volunteer assistants.

At yesterday’s conference participants were given a variety of information about transportation, sport venues and the athletes’ residences for all of the six cities and provinces where the 20 official sports and two demonstration events will be held. Official sporting events will be held in Ha Noi, Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh and HCM City.

The third AIG will include new events including petanque (iron ball); women’s defence; shuttlecock; pencak silat; and vovinam (Vietnamese martial arts). Jujitsu and beltwrestling will be held as demonstration events.

Fourty-five countries have registered about 4,000 athletes, coaches and officials to take part in the event.

Aside from the media preparations, almost everything has been made ready for the Games to go ahead from October 30-November 8.

The Indoor Athletics Palace, the primary event venue, has been inaugurated and the other venues are in their final stages of completion.

More than 7,000 volunteers, who have been well trained and are fluent in English, are ready to welcome visitors and work at the biggest sporting event in Viet Nam’s history.

Security protocols and plans are in place and the media’s information-technology system is up and running.

Organisers continue to iron out transportation plans, which has been an issue of concern.

Hundreds of journalists and fans from around Asia are expected to descend upon Viet Nam to watch the games. Last October the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the official logo, mascot and song for the games.

A torch created by the flaming petals of a lotus flower was chosen as the games’ logo, which represents a symbol of solidarity, friendship and co-operation.

The mascot is a Ho Village chicken, a distinctly Vietnamese and rare breed of chicken which is believed to embody the five qualities of a man of honour: knowledge, martial arts, physical strength, humanity and loyalty.

The AIG is a multi-sport event held every two years for Asian athletes. The first games were held in 2005 in Bangkok, Thailand. Viet Nam came in 21st on the rankings table with one silver and one bronze medal.

At the second games in Macau, Viet Nam climbed to the 13th spot with two golds, five silvers and 11 bronzes. Mainland China topped the medals’ table with 52 golds, 26 silvers and 24 bronze, followed by Thailand and Hong Kong. — VNS