Burma has created a stir throughout the Southeast Asia sporting world by replacing several popular Olympic sports with local traditional games in the draft line-up for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Tennis, gymnastics and badminton were all dropped and replaced with 14 traditional sports, eight of which are exclusively played in Burma.
“I just received the list today and badminton is not registered as the SEA Games’ sports,” said Rita Subowo, the chairwoman of the Indonesia Olympic Committee, to The Jakarta Globe on Friday.
Speaking to Asia One Sports, Chris Chan, the Singapore National Olympic Council secretary-general, said that he has sent the local organizers a letter on the matter.
Chan said: “Nothing has been finalized yet. As with many previous Games, there's always room for discussions.”
The Burmese government has rapidly been preparing to host the 27th installment of the games by building a new sport stadium in Naypyitaw.
The games will begin on December 11.
