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THAILAND: The city of Korat, northeast of the Thai capital Bangkok, is all set to host the opening of the Southeast Asian Games on Thursday, with more than a million spectators expected over ten days of competition.
With a capacity of 20,000, the stadium in Korat city will be the venue for both the opening and closing ceremonies of the SEA Games.
Other facilities specially built for the games include a 4,000-seat boxing stadium and a swanky media centre.
The 24th SEA Games will mark the sixth time that Thailand is hosting the event – the last time being twelve years ago in Chiang Mai.
For the Thais, there are double reasons to celebrate – the dates of the games in Nakhon Rachasima province coincide with the 80th birthday of their revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Security will be tight during the ten days of competition to ensure the safety of the teams from eleven countries, as well as spectators from all over the region.
Close to 7,500 uniformed and plain clothes security officers will be deployed.
Thailand has also gone all out to make the 5,000 athletes and 1,000 officials feel at home.
Initial inspections of athletes' quarters had led to several complaints, but officials said all shortcomings have been addressed and a royal touch has been added.
Thailand's Deputy Minister of Sports and Tourism, Nat Intrapana, said: "Even our little princess will be staying in the village. Your athletes from your country will be staying with our Thai royalty, okay? So the standard has to be very good."
Substandard facilities had marred several SEA Games in the past. That is why the kingdom undertook several construction projects for this year's competition.
However, officials readily admitted that some of the older facilities may not be fully up to scratch.
Dr Sakchai Tapsuwan, 24th SEA Games Technical Director, said: "The competition venue here is not up to international standards. I accept that. I have no objection, but would like to inform you or clarify with you that the venues over here have been built years before. They were built for other purposes, not for the competition."
Other problems that had dogged some of the earlier SEA Games were issues such as biased judging in favour of the host country, abrupt schedule changes and alleged match fixing.
But Thai officials said that with their years of planning and preparation, they expect this year's event to run smoothly.
- CNA/so
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