Thang said Viet Nam had expended great efforts to ensure all journalists who come to the country for the Games would be satisfied with the host’s infrastructure and services.

Organisers spoke to more than 200 journalists from Asian countries about organisation for the event yesterday.

A media centre has been set up in the VKO building at the Giang Vo Exhibition Centre so reporters can get up-to-date information, photos and results from all sporting events.

The centre will also provide services like healthcare, foreign exchange, workspace and volunteers to provide assistance.

At yesterday’s conference, participants were given information about transportation, sport venues and athletes’ apartments in six cities and provinces in Viet Nam, where the 20 sports events will be held.

The third games will include new disciplines like indoor petanque (iron ball), women’s defence, shuttlecock, pencak silat and vovinam (Vietnamese martial arts). Jujitsu and beltwrestling will be the demonstration events at the games. Sports will be held in Ha Noi, Ha Long, Bac Ninh and HCM City.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism last October announced the official logo, mascot and song for the third Asian Indoor Games.

The logo is the image of a torch created by the flaming petals of a lotus flower, a symbol of solidarity, friendship and co-operation.

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

The games is a multi-sport event held every two years among Asian athletes. The first games were held in 2005 in Bangkok, Thailand where Viet Nam ranked 21st winning one silver and one bronze medal.

At the second games in Macau, which attracted the participation of 1,792 athletes from 45 countries and regions, the country came in 13th with two golds, five silvers and 11 bronzes. Mainland China topped the medals table with 52 golds, 26 silvers and 24 bronze medals, followed by Thailand and Hong Kong.

VietNamNet/VNS