Cebu venues get passing mark from foreign execs

Cebu, one of the co-hosts of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games set November 27 to December 5, gained a thumbs up sign from the Chefs de Mission of the participating countries who made an ocular inspection of the different venues that will be used in light of Cebu's hosting of six SEAG events.

The different delegation heads pronounced during a brief press conference yesterday at Gerry's Grill in Ayala that Cebu is 90 percent ready for the biennial sports conclave. Except for Myanmar, which requested for all indoor venues to be air-conditioned, the rest have approved the venues.

Thailand's Chef de Mission Preeda Rodpotong also requested for a separate room for their secretariat and medical team, which CebuSoc chairman Jonathan Guardo readily answered on the affirmative.

Added to that, the CebuSoc officials also assured the delegates they will enforce a stringent security measure in the duration of the 10-day athletic meet to be participated in by 11 nations.

With that, the delegation heads of the foreign entries responded with a smile, impressed with the preparations made by the Cebu organizers.

The 10 visiting Chefs de Mission, on the other hand, commended the Cebu officials for the very warm welcome and hospitality they accorded to them, even as they hope the Cebuanos will be at the games to witness the action.

Malaysia's Low Beng Coo said this is the first time Cebu will be part of the SEA Games, thus, everyone should be part of it.

Coo enjoined the media to focus on the positive side rather the shortcomings of the organizers and other problems concerning the SEA Games preparations.

Cebu will play host to dancesport, judo, karatedo, mountainbike, sepak takraw, and pencak silat.

Laos, however, will only be fielding entries in karatedo and judo, while new member, Timor Leste, according to its head Antonio Ximenes, will send in karatedo athletes only here.

The foreign executives will head back to Manila for another meeting with the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PhilSoc) officials before returning to their respective countries.