SEA Games 2011 in Palembang this November

South Sumatra Governor, Alex Noerdin promised that all venues for the SEA Games will be ready by August. The tennis courts will be ready by April, athletic fields by June, as will be the swimming arena, expected to be one of the best in Asia, said the Governor, as reported in Bisnis Indonesia.

Indonesia is scheduled to host the SEA Games 2011 from 11 – 25 November in two cities, namely Palembang, South Sumatra, and Jakarta. This will be the fourth time that Indonesia hosts the Games and the first time outside the capital. Nonetheless, Jakarta will still act as co-host where half of the 44 competing sports will be staged.

Most of the venues and the athlete village in Palembang will be new constructions, while those in Jakarta will be renovated and upgraded.

As venue for the 26th South East Asian Games 2011, Palembang’s Gelora Sriwijaya sport centre and construction of the Jakabaring main stadium will be ready by June 2011 promised Wafid Muharam, Secretary of the Ministry for Youth and Sports earlier. This will allow ample time for athletes to train and the necessary preparations made prior to the actual opening of the Games.

Logo of the 2011 SEA Games depicts the mythical Garuda bird, Indonesia’s emblem, spreading its wings, with a green line over the top representing Indonesia’s many mountains and a blue line below representing the Indonesian archipelagic seas.

The opening ceremony is planned to be held along Palembang’s wide Musi River with the closing ceremony at the Gelora Sriwijaya.

The 2011 SEA Games are expected to be participated by 11 nations and more than 6,000 atheletes. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to officially open the 2011 SEA Games.