No more than 350 bets, officials for SEAG

Due to financial constraints and stringent standard to be imposed for aspiringa athletes, the joint Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission SEA Games Task Force announced that the Philippines will send no more than 350 athletes and officials in the meet set in Septembe in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"Based on our initial evaluation, we will send about 300-350 athletes and officials in the SEA Games," said RP chief de mission Freddie Jalasco.

"It’s not yet final because we still have to evaluate their performances in the next few months so there is a chance that the list will be trimmed," said Jalasco. "But definitely, hindi na lalagpas iyan sa 350.

Barely 250 athletes were included in the national training pool from 29 different sports which included newly-introduced event lawn bowl. Over a hundred team officials were also part of the list Jalasco and his group approved for the Games.

He also estimated a budget of P75,000 per athlete or official which would cover food allowance, air fare and billeting expenses for a total of P26 million, about 30 percent more than what the country spent in the 1999 Brunei SEAG where it sent more than 200 athletes and officials.

He said the amount is on top of the expenses the athletes will incur in training and competition overseas and purchase of equipment.

Voicing the same prediction of POC president Celso Dayrit, Jalasco said RP is likely to finish at fourth place behind SEA Games powerhouse squads Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.

The task force will finalize the list before July 31 before submitting it to the Malaysian Organizing Committee.

To be eligible, an athlete or team must have equalled or surpassed the bronze medal performance in their respective event in a SEA Games or stronger competition won from 1999 until August 2001. — Joey Villar