SEA 2015 Games to feature 36 sports

SINGAPORE - Weightlifting and karate are out while petanque, boxing and equestrian are in, with floorball making its debut as a full medal sport for the 2015 Southeast Asian Games which is held June 5-16 in Singapore.

For now, there will be 381 gold medals up for grabs but the number could increase when the SEA Games Federation council meets in Singapore to make a final decision on the line-up of sports for the 28th edition of the biennial Games, local TV Channel NewsAsia reported on Thursday.

Singapore National Olympic Council Secretary-General Chris Chan was quoted as saying that the local organizing committee and SEA Games Federation council members have agreed to cap the number of sports at 36, after a series of meetings.

"In the original list, we have 30 sports but after appeals by the member countries at the SEA Games Federation council meeting here last month, we have decided to include six more to the original list to make it 36," said Chan.

The six sports to be added are boxing (11 gold medals), equestrian (4), floorball (2), petanque (8), rowing (18) and volleyball (2).

"That's the furthest we can go," said Chan, who expects more appeals from member countries when the federation meets here late next month and the likelihood that the number of gold medals will be increased.

Chan's Malaysian counterpart, Sieh Kok Chi, agrees that 36 would be the maximum. "In Singapore's case, the bus is full. They cannot take in any more passengers. Given their resources and the limited number of venues, I think 36 sports is fair," said Sieh.