The SEA Games risks decreasing in value with more traditional sports represented at next month's Myanmar tournament, Thai officials said yesterday.
Thailand has spent more than 300 million baht preparing its athletes for the Games, to be held Dec 11-22, and expects to claim more than 100 gold medals.
There are 460 gold medals up for grabs in 33 sports, including chinlone (a Myanmar's traditional sport similar to sepak takraw), vovinam (a Vietnamese martial art) and kempo, or kenpo (a cross-cultural martial art).
Sakol Wannapong, deputy governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, said the biennial tournament may struggle to attract investment as the standard drops, along with its popularity.
"Some say that the Games is just to strengthen the relationships among the member countries," Sakol said.
"If so, we do not need to spend that sum of money. It costs a lot with a Thai athlete getting 900 baht per day in preparing for the Games. It is better to spend money on development."
Charoen Wattanasin, from the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, agreed there are too many sports at the Games.
"Among the gold medals, about 35 percent are from combat sports," he said. "Some of the sports, you've never heard of them before in your life."
Charoen suggested the Games could be improved by including more international sports, but acknowledged this was sometimes subject to political interference.
He was hopeful that the next Games, to be held in Singapore in 2015, would set a new precedent.
"Singapore could set the standard for the Games," he said.
"Among the 30 sports to be contested, 28 sports should be Olympic disciplines."
Earlier, Thana Chaiprasit, Thailand's chief of delegation, criticised Myanmar for dropping international sports such as tennis and gymnastics in favour of lesser-known disciplines.
"I don't think it makes for a fair Games," Thana said. "But, they are the host nation, so they can use the opportunity to choose what they want."