LookAtVietnam – Preparations for the third Asian Indoor Games - the biggest sporting event of the year - are almost complete, the games’ organising board in HCM City said.

The city has also taken care of transportation and health issues. Hung said, adding that some streets would be resurfaced to make travelling to competition venues more convenient, and also that transport police would escort teams.

Nguyen Tuan Viet, head of the ceremony’s sub-committee in HCM City, said that finishing touches were being made to the opening ceremony preparations.

An AIG park, which will open on October 29 and close on November 7, will display information relating to previous AIG Games, as well as information on HCM City’s sports, economy and society.

The park will have an area for folk games, a stage with nightly programmes, a dining area offering international cuisine and an area for displaying made-in-Viet Nam products. The park will also have a model of Ha Long Bay.

The park will be fully finished on October 22, Viet said. Nguyen Hong, director of the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) in HCM City, which will be based at Phu Tho Gymnasium, said that finishing touches to the centre would be completed on October 26.

A campaign to collect two millions signatures in support of the Games was launched on Sunday in HCM City.

Sports fans across the country can sign the A2 book or go online at www.2trieuchuky.yume.vn.

Hoang Vinh Giang, vice head of the Games’ organising committee, said 37 countries and territories would be coming to HCM City. The World Sports Corporation, the sponsoring consultant for the games’ organising board, said major sponsors included Viet Nam Post and Telecommunication (VNPT), Tan Hiep Phat Beverage Corporation and Viet Nam Insurance Corporation (Bao Viet).

The Games in Viet Nam will be the last Asian Indoor Games. The sporting venue will later be combined with the Martial Arts Games and called the Asian Indoor-Martial Arts Games in 2004. Qatar, Bahrain and Turkmenistan are bidding to host the event.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News