Organizers to postpone AIMAG to 2023, Hanoi SEA Games to May 2022—POC

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) in a statement Saturday said that the governments of both Thailand and Vietnam are set to announce the postponement of two major international competitions they will be hosting.

POC president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino said Thailand is expected to formalize that the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games’ (AIMAG) will now be moved to 2023 while Vietnam will push back the 2021 SEA Games to May 2022.

“We are expecting both [the] governments of Thailand and Vietnam to make the official announcements next week,” Tolentino said.

The sixth edition of the AIMAG, held once every four years, was originally scheduled to take place from March 10 to 20 next year in Bangkok and Chonburi, but according to Tolentino, the Thai government opted to move the games back due to health and safety considerations.

A total of 160 athletes are pegged to be sent to the quadrennial meet with the country joining 21 of the 31 sporting events.

Tolentino added that the 31st SEA Games, where the Philippines is the reigning overall champion, will push through although the Vietnamese organizers have yet to finalize the dates.

“I believe it would be in the latter part of May 2022,” Tolentino said.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News