Chinese Government provides RMB 212 million grant for 27th Southeast Asia Games (SEA) Games Technical Cooperation Project

Project narrative

On September 14, 2012, the Chinese Government and the Government of Myanmar signed letters of exchange regarding the 27th Southeast Asia Games (SEA) Games Technical Cooperation Project. China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) reportedly committed RMB 212 million (approximately $34 million) of grant funding for the project. The purpose of the project was to dispatch 700 Chinese experts — including coaches, game managers, stage designers, and technicians — to help Myanmar’s Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Sports organize the 27th SEA Games in the city of Nay Pyi Taw. Another objective was help athletes from Myanmar improve their performance in the 27th SEA Games. The Chinese coaching staff will work in Myanmar for 12 months, and the full cost will be borne by the Chinese government. The Chinese coaching staff consisted of 28 members, including: 5 track and field coaches, 4 martial arts coaches, 3 cycling coaches, 3 physical coaches, 2 shooting coaches, 2 gymnastics coaches, 1 swim coach, 1 diving coach, 1 kayak coach, 1 rowing coach, 1 basketball coach, 1 weightlifting coach, 1 boxing coach, and 2 management personnel. On April 23, 2013, China‘s Ministry of Culture and Myanmar's Ministry of Culture signed an agreement on the implementation of the 27th Southeast Asian Games Open and Closing Ceremony Technical Cooperation Project (第27届东南亚运动会开闭幕式技术合作项目 in Chinese). The signing of this agreement marked the beginning of the implementation of the technical cooperation project. Myanmar's Aid Information Portal later reported that China provided $7.94 million worth of sports equipments and training for opening and closing ceremonies, which is likely part of the larger technical cooperation project. China Arts and Entertainment Group and China Sports International Economic and Technical Cooperation Co., Ltd. were the contractors responsible for implementation of the project. The 2013 Southeast Asian Games, officially known as the 27th Southeast Asian Games, was a Southeast Asian multi-sport event took place in Nay Pyi Taw from December 11, 2013 to December 22, 2013. Around 4,730 athletes from 11 participating nations participated in the games, which featured 460 events in 34 sports. Most of the games took place in Wunna Theikdi Stadium (Burmese: ဝဏ္ဏသိဒ္ဒိ အားကစားကွင်း). The 27th Southeast Asia Games (SEA) Games Technical Cooperation Project was officially completed on February 25, 2014. This project is also known was the 27th Southeast Asian Games Open and Closing Ceremony Technical Cooperation Project. The Chinese project title is 27届东南亚运动会技术合作 or 第27届东南亚运动会开闭幕式技术合作项目.