VietNamNet Bridge – The Southeast Asian Sports Confederation’s Technical Committee agreed to not increase the number of sports at the SEA Games 25 so the figure will remain the same at 25, reported Secretary General of the Vietnam Olympic Committee, Hoang Vinh Giang, from Vientiane (Laos).

Giang is now in Vientiane for a session of the Southeast Asian Sports Confederation to prepare for the upcoming SEA Games 25, the largest sports event in Southeast Asia.

Therefore, sports like canoeing, rowing and basketball, which are at Vietnam’s best advantage, will not be played at the games.

As to television copyright, the Southeast Asian Sports Confederation agreed to give 75% of the television royalties to Laos in order to upgrade the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) of SEA Games 25. The remaining 25% will belong to the confederation.

The most basic rule for television broadcasting rights at the games is that no TV channel can exclusively hold the right.

The session will continue till November 13.

SEA Games 25 will be held in Vientiane, Laos in December 2009, with 29 sports as follows: water-sports (swimming, diving), archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, bowling, football (including futsal), golf, handball, judo, karate, Muay Thai, pentanque, pencak silat, sepak takraw, shooting, shuttle-cock, billiards-snookers, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, traditional boat-racing, volleyball (including beach volleyball), wresting and wushu.

(Source: Lao Dong)