The AIG 3 will have the participation of 45 countries and territories; 1,000 technical authorities; 5,000 athletes; 2,000 journalists and about 4,000 volunteers. Expected to welcome over 10,000 people, this event will be organized in 6 provinces and cities: Hanoi, HCMC, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hai Duong and Bac Ninh.

In order to prepare best for the event, Vietnam finished the preparation works. The sporting event halls in 6 provinces and cities are ready for the event. The tourism industry selected about 60 hotels ranked from 3-star to 5-star in 6 provinces and cities to serve visitors to Vietnam for the AIG 3. The tourism industry has inspected carefully infrastructure, equipment and especially food safety in these hotels.

Hanoi will organize the opening ceremony on October 30, 2009 in My Dinh Stadium and the closing ceremony on November 8, 2009 in Quan Ngua Sports Palace. This is also the city which will organize the sports such as: athletics, aquatics, dance sport, petanque, women’s defence, shuttlecock, sepak takraw (hoop), kabadi, kurash, e-sport, jujitsu & beltwrestling.

Hanoi municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism negotiated with the organization board of AIG 3 to promote Hanoi tourism and provide Hanoi tourism publications for attending teams. The athletes can participate in tour programs in Hanoi as well as visit some destinations in Vietnam. Through this activity, the tourism industry hopes participators will introduce the beautiful Vietnam country to their family and friends.

Many activities to welcome the AIG 3 will also take place in Ho Chi Minh City. Youth Culture House will organize propaganda sport festival for the AIG 3. Through games which imitate the sports in the AIG 3 such as: archery, table tennis, bowling, athletics, petanque, futsal, 3 on 3 basketball, shuttlecock, aerobics gymnastics, HCMC people will be mixed with ebullient atmosphere of the AIG 3. In addition, AIG Park will be opened on October 28, 2009 in 23/9 Park to welcome the attending teams. During the AIG 3, there will be many activities organized here such as: the exhibition on sport, culture achievements of Vietnam in general and HCMC in particular; folk games; gastronomy programs to introduce specialties of attending countries; and vote for Halong Bay as one of seven world wonders. On October 30, 2009, a program to respond the opening ceremony of AIG 3 is scheduled to organize in Military Zone 7 Gymnasium.

In Quang Ninh Province, 2 sports that will be organized are chess, xiangqi. All preparation finished and got ready for opening day. In this time, the vote for Halong Bay is also in decisive period. Through this event, the vote will attract many advocates.

Besides, the sports such as archery, sport aerobics will be organized in Hai Phong; pencak silat in Hai Duong; and boxing of women’s defence in Bac Ninh.

On this occasion, Prime Minister has just approved that people who has AIG card and valid passport or passport replacement documents will be exempt from visa requirements in international border gates between October 15 and November 15, 2009.

Thuy Hang