Twenty-eight Chinese coaches arrived in Rangoon this week to begin training Burmese athletes to help the host country prepare for the 27th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games next December.
Funded by the Chinese government, the provincial and state-level Chinese coaches will spend one year working in Burma to develop the skills of various athletes in the disciplines of track and field, wushu [martial arts], cycling, shooting, swimming, diving, rowing, gymnastics, basketball and weightlifting.
The delegation of coaches is said to be a part of Beijing’s assistance package to Burma ahead of the games. In addition, more than 170 Burmese athletes have been invited to go and train in China.
The program also includes providing sports and training equipment to Burma and helping the country’s authorities build competition management systems, according to Xinhua, the Chinese national news service.
The 27th SEA Games will be hosted by Burma in Rangoon, Mandalay, Naypyitaw and Ngwe Saung Beach for 12 days next year starting December 11 and culminating on December 22.
Some 5,000 athletes will compete from 11 countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam and hosts Burma.
