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ALEMBANG: The organizing committee for next year’s 26th South East Asian (SEA) Games in Palembang, South Sumatra, aims to make the event’s venues no-smoking zones.

The policy was legalized in an agreement recently signed between Palembang city administration and the provincial government.

“We intend to create a healthy and smoke-free environment throughout the course of the 2011 SEA Games,” said the city’s Health agency head Gema Asiani on Saturday.

Special spots for smokers will be made available outside the SEA Games venues.

Meanwhile, due to an expansion of the construction for venues infrastructure, construction for the event is still being hampered by land acquisition issues.

The expanded land areas are designed for rejuvenating a 40-hectare dam that will serve as the venue for water sports, including water-skiing and rowing. The land belongs to 49 residents and private bank Sumsel.

“We are currently in negotiations with the residents concerning the value of the land,” said South Sumatra provincial administration bureau chief Mulyadin Rohan said on Thursday.

The venues’ construction is expected to be completed around June next year, five months prior to the games, which is slated to take place in November. — JP