RP mustn’t lose hometown edge — Keon

While those in charge of venues and equipment see no problem, Michael Keon, the training director of the Filipino athletes gearing up for this year’s Southeast Asian Games, has aired some sort of apprehension.

"We must not lose the hometown advantage," said the former director of the Project Gintong Alay during yesterday’s gathering of the country’s top sports officials at the Milky Way Restaurant in Makati.

"And it means familiarization with equipment to be used in the competition and familiarization with the venues. So if you (still) have problems with the venues, then you have a problem with familiarization," he added.

Keon made the observation after an issue was raised during the meeting that a number of sports still have no definite venues with only 101 days left before the start of the Games on Nov. 27.

"The sooner we allocate the venues, the sooner the athletes can go there and train and be familiar with them, and thereby have the hometown advantage," added Keon who, however, remained hopeful and confident.

The needed equipment for the training and actual competition in most sports have yet to come in.

"But it’s always better late than never. Right from the beginning, I’ve said that we were already late. It’s hard to catch up and you can only give your best," he said after the meeting which lasted more than two hours.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco and Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez were at the meeting also attended by the heads or representatives of the 41 sports to be played in the SEA Games.

Cojuangco and Ramirez both hold high and sensitive positions in the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee or Philsoc.

Among those still having difficulty securing venues, according to Philsoc operations chief Ritchie Garcia, are gymnastics and women’s football. Other sports like athletics already have venues that are still under renovation.

Garcia said gymnastics is set at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum but is in need of a training and warm-up area. The nearby badminton hall could provide the answer but only if wrestling agrees to move to another venue.

"We have to convince wrestling officials for them to transfer to the San Andres Gym. If they do, then the gymnasts can use the badminton hall as training and warm-up area during the actual competitions," said Garcia.

Gymnastics was originally set at the San Beda College in Alabang but was forced to look for another venue after the homeowners of a plush subdivision in the area balked at the idea of keeping their gates open to the public during the Games.

Women’s football might also be moved from Marikina City to the Philsports in Pasig after the former failed to meet the standard length of the field. The problem could be addressed if Marikina officials agree to dismantle the asphalt bicycle lane adjacent to the field.

City officials, however, was not keen on the idea. Women’s football, therefore, is set to be moved to the Philsports field which requires leveling and other repairs. Garcia said a different budget would be needed to do this.

"But aside from these sports, all the others are okay with their venues," said Garcia, a PSC commissioner. He added that those under renovation will be finished in time for the training of the athletes heading into the Games.