At a press conference in Hanoi on November 6, deputy chairman of thecompany Vu Quang Huy said the 3,390,000 VND (160 USD) gift was not big,but hopefully would encourage athletes.

Lam QuangThanh, deputy head of the National Sports Administration and head of theVietnam delegation, said at least eight other enterprises and companieshad promised support for the team. He said sponsors were also offering"hot, on-the-spot bonuses" to those who achieved great success.

Meanwhile, the national women's football team has been granted supportworth 6 billion VND (286,000 USD) from Nutifood in preparation for the2015 World Cup. This will allow the team to train in Japan, one of theworld's leading female football nations. The company has also promisedjobs to footballers when they finish playing.

Vietnam will have 591 athletes in 29 events at the Games, aiming to beone of the top three at the biennial event. A send-off ceremony for the27th SEA Games in Myanmar will be organised on November 20 at theNational Sports Training Centre in Hanoi.

Hundredsof athletes, coaches and officials who represent Vietnam at the biennialGames will take part in the event which is traditionally held to boostathlete morale and confidence before the competition begins.

"Usually, the Hanoi centre provides core athletes for the nationalteam (there are four centres nation-wide). This year we have fewerathletes than in previous Games, but we still set a target of Viet Nam'swinning up to 70 gold medals in Myanmar," said Nguyen Manh Hung,director of the centre.

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

The ceremony will feature Vietnam's teammembers, cheerleaders, supporters and well-wishers, as well as theparticipation of nationally famous singers and bands. The football teamwill be the first to arrive in Nay Pyi Taw on November 26 while thebiggest group of the delegation will leave for the competition onDecember 4.

🍒 The Games will officially open on December 11 and close 11 days later.-VNA