The SEA Games Federation recently approved four previously scrapped disciplines at a recent online meeting and will make a formal announcement next month, according to a report on a Vietnamese outlet, Saigon Phong Online. These disciplines include triathlon, jiu-jitsu, bowling, and esports.
The organizing nation, Vietnam had previously scrapped multiple disciplines from previous years’ games citing budget concerns due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, appeals and lobbying from various national bodies and federations, particularly the Philippines has led to these changes.
A similar report on Vietnam Express International stated “Duong Vi Khoa, Vice President of the Vietnam Recreational Esport Association and Head of the Vietnam Esport delegation to the last SEA Games, has already said Dota 2, Arena of Valor, and Pro Evolution Soccer will be three of the six titles to be played at the games.”
SEA Games 2021 will be hosted in Vietnam from Nov. 21 to Dec. 2, just months after the conclusion of the Tokyo Olympics, which had to be rescheduled from 2020 to 2021. This will be the second year in a row that the SEA Games will have esports as a medaled event.
Shounak Sengupta is a staff writer for AFK Gaming.
