South-East Asia

Almost every National Olympic Committee secretary has expressed satisfaction with the progress made at the two major sports complexes for December's Asian Games, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) secretary, Randhir Singh, reported.

The organisers of 13th Asian Games in Bangkok are expecting an estimated incomeof 230,834,000 baht ($5.9m) from the ticket sales.

Asia's severe economic situation has cast doubts over the completion of construction for the Bangkok Asian Games.

Hundreds of youths went on the rampage at a detention centre in northeast Thailand in the early hours of Wednesday after officials prevented them from watching a World Cup soccer match on television, police said.

Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has told Bangkok Asian Games Organising Committee (Bagoc) chief Bhichai Rattakul that if it became necessary Bagoc could get monetary support from the Government's central fund, the Bangkok Post reports.

Thailands' Finance Ministry is to offer tax exemptions to importers on goods to be used for the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in December.

Amidst growing concern that the Muang Thong Thani sport complex might not be completed in time for the 13th Asian Games, the Olympic Committee of Asia has given Bangkok Land a final deadline of October 15 to finish the seven sports facilities there.

The Bangkok Asian Games Organising Committee will decide tomorrow whether it will use the Muang Thong Thani sports complex of Bangkok Land Plc as a venue for the 13th Asian Games this December.

Financial problems are causing difficulties for the Television Pool of Thailand (TV Pool) in its preparations for live telecasts of the Asian Games, according to TV Pool chairman Gen Pang Malakul Na Ayudhya.

Caltex Oil (Thailand) Ltd is stepping up its promotion campaign in the run-up to the Asian Games, for which it is a major sponsor.

The cash-strapped organisers of this year's Asian Games have said they would ask for 500 million baht ($13.16 million) from Thailand's lottery to overcome liquidity problems caused by poor ticket sales.

Japanese coach Philippe Troussier said that soccer's world governing body FIFA should introduce weight categories to cut out cheating in age-group football.

Bangkok Asian Games Organising Committee (Bagoc) chairman and deputy prime minister Bhichai Rattakul has requested chefs de mission from 43 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) not to withdraw their teams from the Bangkok Asiad.

Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has announced his government has approved a 500 million baht ($13.8 million) loan from the state lottery to the cash-strapped Asian Games organising committee.

Thai competitors who win gold medals at next month's Asian Games in Bangkok will receive cash rewards of at least 1.0 million baht ($27,000), a government minister has said.

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej is to use a magnifying glass to light the flame for next month's Asian Games and the prime minister will help run it to the opening ceremony.