No problem with venues

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Celso Dayrit yesterday said prospective host cities or municipalities shouldn’t have anything to worry about regarding the country’s hosting of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games late next year.

"We have already come up with several plans as part of the preparations," said Dayrit amid reports that the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc), which he also chairs, is facing serious problems performing its duties.

"Philsoc is doing its job," said the POC chief, adding that the SEA Games Federation Council, which met last Friday in Manila, has overwhelmingly approved Philsoc’s presentation, including the tentative venues to be used for the next SEA Games.

The federation has approved 34 sports and will meet again in October for the possible inclusion of a couple more like tennis and weightlifting, which were excluded from the initial list.

So far, the calendared sports are athletics, aquatics, arnis, archery, wrestling, wushu, boxing, basketball, rowing/traditional boat race, triathlon, gymnastics, judo, fencing, taekwondo, golf, chess, bowling, baseball, softball, equestrian, dance sport, billiards, badminton, canoeing/kayak, cycling, football, karatedo, pencak silat, petanque, sailing, sepak takraw, shooting, table tennis and volleyball.

"Officials from the 10 other SEA countries fully supported our recommendations," said Dayrit a day after the City of Manila, through Manila Sports Council (Masco) chair Ali Atienza, said the country may be running out of time regarding the SEA Games hosting.

"Our problem is the Rizal Memorial Stadium, where athletics and swimming have to be staged but needs to be refurbished," said Dayrit. "But the other venues we have identified, owned by the different cities and municipalities, schools and private clubs, are well-maintained and available."

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Eric Buhain has also doubted Philsoc’s preparations for the Games. He questioned the delay in the announcement of the venues and the absence of a training program for the athletes to be funded by the government sports agency.

Philsoc said it would need at least P500 million just to organize the Games. Atienza said with barely 21 months left and the marketing program still being finalized, Philsoc would need to raise close to P24 million or P700,000 a day just to meet the target.

Datuk Jegathesan, deputy president of the Malaysia Olympic Committee, said he sees no problem with the marketing of an event as big as the SEA Games, adding that 21 months is enough time to get the job done.

"In their talks with prospective sponsors, some do it for two years but nothing happened. But some do it for only two weeks and made the deal. It all depends on the program," said the 61-year-old Malaysian official who was once Asia’s sprint king.

"Like when Vietnam organized the SEA Games (in 2003), people were worried about so many things. But in the end, it was a resounding success. I don’t see any problem (with Manila). Each country organizes the Games in different ways. I don’t see any difficulty because the Philippines has organized it before (1981 and 1991)," he added.

Charouck Arirachakaran, secretary-general of Thailand Olympic Committee, shared the same opinion.

"Your country has the experience so don’t worry about the problems. I heard a lot of that. The organizing committee here, with the experience, can do it. The Filipino people will make the hosting successful," he said.

The Malaysian official said the Philippines can try to win the overall title, but added that it won’t come on a silver platter.

"You can try, but all of us will also try to beat you," he said, drawing a sheepish smile from his Thai counterpart.