Getting ready: Count down board at Ha Noi's National Sport Training Centre where most Vietnamese athletes are training for the SEA Games. Only a month remains before the region's biggest sporting event for two years. — Photo vietnamnet.vn

HA NOI (VNS)— A send-off ceremony for the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar will be organised on November 20 at the National Sports Training Centre in Ha Noi.

Hundreds of athletes, coaches and officials who represent Viet Nam at the biennial Games will take part in the event which is traditionally held to boost athlete morale and confidence before the competition begins.

"Usually, the Ha Noi centre provides core athletes for the national team (there are four centres nation-wide). This year we have fewer athletes than in previous Games, but we still set a target of Viet Nam's winning up to 70 gold medals in Myanmar," said Nguyen Manh Hung, director of the centre yesterday.

"All of our athletes have been in intensive training for months. We believe that they will be ensured about physical strength and sound techniques to compete at the Games," he added.

The ceremony, which has been promised a most event rousing send-off, will feature Viet Nam's team members, cheerleaders, supporters and well-wishers, as well as the participation of nationally famous singers and bands. The football team will be the first to arrive Nay Pyi Taw on November 26. While the biggest group of the delegation will leave for the competition on December 4.

The Games will officially open on December 11 and close 11 days later. — VNS