10,000 ATHLETES AND OFFICIALS EXPECTED IN SEA GAMES 2019 IN DAVAO
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 30 Jul 2016
Three years before the country hosts anew the Southeast Asian Games, the Philippine Sports Commission has already set in place preparations to make the event a resounding success like the previous three times the biennial conclave came to this shore.
For various reasons, of course. One, because it will mark the 30th time the Games will be held since the former Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games got off the road in Bangkok in 1959.
Second, it will be the first time the Games among Southeast Asia's finest athletes will be seen in Muslim Mindanao which happens to be the hometown of newly-installed Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, also popularly known as "DU30."
"What a coincidence really, di ba? Thirtieth anniversary ng SEA Games to be staged in the hometown of President DU30. Parang iginuhit ng tadhana," PSC chair William "Butch" Ramirez exclaimed in a phone patch radio interview Thursday in the sports portion of "Tropang Bistag" program aired over DZEC.
Indeed, it is for this particular reason, according to Ramirez, why Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose 'Peping" Cojuangco thought of offering the hosting to Davao City.
"It'll be tough job, I tell you. First, we have to insure that venues for the 20-plus sports as well as hotels to billet the 10,000 or so athletes and officials will be available," the PSC top honcho cautioned, during the sports program.
"But, as in the words of Cong Peping himself said, we have three years to prepare, we still have plenty of time," he added.
"Besides, we have already secured the approval of the president, who promised to help."
"After all, it's an honor, not only of Davao but of Mindanao itself and the Mindanaoans that we're bringing the Games there. Hosting an event in the magnitude of the SEA Games gives us a rare opportunity to show not only to the SEA Games Federation-member countries but the whole of Asia and the world as well what the real situation in Mindanao is," Ramirez reasoned out.
"In 2019, we will be showcasing how beautiful Mindanao is and, how hospitable and kind we, Mindanaoans are, too, like the rest of us Filipinos in all parts of the country," Ramirez, who himself is a Davaoeno, assured.
To start preparations, Ramirez has dispatched a six-man team, headed by commissioners Charles Maxey and Arnold Agustin to Davao to conduct an occular inspection on the existing sports facilities there and adjacent cities and municipalities, including the Davao City Modern Sports Complex inside the University of the Philippines-Mindanao in Tugbok, University of Mindanao, Davao del Norte Sports Complex in Tagum.
Also in the PCSC inspection team are acting executive director Ronnel Abrenica, Engineer Eduardo Clariza, Architect Noel Elnar and Alona Quintos of plans and programs department.
The team will be back in Manila next week in time for the PSC board's first meeting since the agency was constituted three weeks ago, Ramirez, who, incidentally, also headed the PSC when the Philippines emerged the SEA Games overall champion the last time the country hosted the event 10 years ago.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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