Yangon and Mandalay will also stage some events for the Games, scheduled to open on January 14 and last for seven days.

Myanmar, better known as Burma, recently successfully hosted the 27th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

That was the third occasion they had held those Games but the upcoming event will be the first time they have staged the ASEAN ParaGames. 

Singapore unexpectedly withdrew its hosting rights due to expected delays in the completion of its new National Stadium.

They will host the 2015 edition of the Games instead. 

Myanmar has recently successfully held the SEA Games ©AFP/Getty Images

More than 1,500 athletes and officials from 11 Southeast Asian countries are expected to be involved in the ParaGames.

Events will include athletics, swimming, volleyball, football, basketball, goalkeeping, chess, boccia, weightlifting and archery and a total of 399 gold medals will be awarded. 

The Games are held approximately every two years and first took place in 1988 in Kuala Lumpur, who also held them in 2009. 

They have also taken place in Hanoi, Manila, Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailand and Solo in Indonesia in 2011.

On that occasion Thailand finished top overall with a total of 295 medals, including 126 gold.

Myanmar finished sixth with 31 medals, 11 gold.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]