Southeast Asian countries are no exemption with the effect of COVID-19 pandemic that causes its athletes to halt their trainings and preparations for local and international sports competitions.
But some sports organizations held bubble format to continue their respective leagues. Others used virtual competitions like e-kata in karate, chess, weightlifting and diving.
With health protocols and strict guidelines, countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines held some sports in bubble format.
The Philippines for instant just ended its major basketball league, the PBA Philippine Cup where Barangay Ginebra San Miguel was crowned champion after finishing off TNT team. Philippine team also competed in FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2020 in Doha, Qatar last November.
They also competed in a bubble format FIBA Asia Cup 2021 - Qualifiers along side with team Thailand and Indonesia in the same group in Bahrain last November.
In volleyball, Vietnam is holding its 2020 PV Gas Volleyball League and powerhouse Thailand is holding Daikin Volleyball League (for Men & Women) while Indonesia will resume its Proliga next year starting January 31 to February 28.
Laos also staged its national beach volleyball championships just this week December.
Malaysia on the other hand has staged competitions for archery and test event for sepak takraw. And now holding bowling and gymnastics during Malaysia National Sports (MSN) Carnival 2020.
As for Vietnam, aside from volleyball it also held its national athletic championships for selection of athletes who will compete for SEA Games 2021 and for Tokyo Olympics. They also held its 100-day countdown campaign for the 31st SEA Games.
With COVID vaccine now being introduced to some parts of the world like in United Kingdom and with some sports slowly getting to its normal form, there is a great hope for sports to be back to its normal routine more or less than the usual.
*** Meaning of Bubble Game ***
According to:
(a) www.merriam-webster.com - bubble is seeing new use in the realm of sports, referring to an isolated set of accommodations and venues in which athletes can reside and compete away from the general public.
(b) In sports media, bubble is being used to refer to the series of scheduled games played or to be played between teams staying in a bubble.
(c) www.deseret.com - Essentially, every team, player, coach and staffer would be isolated at a specific neutral location. Games would be played at the location and players would live there and stay isolated from the rest of the population until the decided stretch of games is completed.
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