INDONESIA may step in as an alternate host of the ASEAN Para Games next year following the recent withdrawal of Vietnam due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Indonesians have stated their intention right after the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) endorsed the official withdrawal of the Vietnamese as hosts of the oft-postponed biennial meet during the board of governors’ online meeting on Wednesday.
The APSF has also decided to open for bidding the hosting that allows Indonesia or other member countries to come in as host and salvage the event that saw the withdrawal of two nations already including the Philippines last year.
Indonesia, which plans to stage it in Solo, had already submitted its proposal and was given until the end of year to pass all the needed documents.
The board will then convene again on Jan. 14 next year to make the final decision on the matter.
Meanwhile, the 2023 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Para Games will push through as scheduled in the middle of 2023 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
“We look forward to the support and assistance from member countries to ensure the Games runs smoothly as this will be the first time Cambodia is hosting the multi-sports Games with such magnitude,” said APSF chairman H. E. Yi Veasna of Cambodia.
The APSF also condoled with the passing of three of its long-serving and key officials–Mahmud Ibrahim of Brunei, Vu The Piet of Vietnam and U Peter of Myanmar. — Joey Villar