Palembang, S Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Six South East Asian heads of state/government and about 6,000 athletes from 11 countries are to attend the opening of SEA Games XXVI in Palembang, South Sumatra, on November 11-22, a regional legislator said.

Vice Chairman of the South Sumatra Provincial Legislative Council (DPRd) MA Gantada said the Indonesian Sea Games XXVI Organizing Committee (InaSOC) was still unable to name the countries that would send their heads of state/government to the event but it meant South Sumatra had to make appropriate preparations for their presence in various aspects including security.

Meanwhile, the chairman of South Sumatra`s InaSOC, H Muddai Madang, said more than six Southeast Asian heads of state/government would come to Palembang for the event but only five or six of them would stay more than one day.

Among the Southeast Asian leaders who would spend more than one day in Palembang were those from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore`s deputy prime minister.

He also said all the venues for the Sea Games competitions in Palembang were now ready for use.

The Games` opening and closing ceremonies would both take place in Palembang but competitions in part of the sports branches would be held in Jakarta. (*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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