SEAG faceoff: Malaysians not on Phl side

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine is definitely not on the same page as Malaysia regarding this year’s staging of the 27th Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar in December.

Philippine Olympic Committee chief Jose Cojuangco has openly questioned Myanmar’s decision to include close to 60 events favoring their athletes in this year’s calendar.

At the same time, Cojuangco is hoping to draw support from the other SEAG countries, and might push for a review and an amendment of the SEA Games charter.

Cojuangco is hoping that in the future, there will be a limit on traditional and indigenous sports which the host country is allowed to include in the calendar.

It is also possible for the SEA Games to create a separate medal standing for these sports, and let the mandatory and Olympic sports take centerstage.

Cojuangco yesterday said a Malaysian sports official has already written the POC regarding the issue, which has forced the Philippines to consider just sending a token delegation to Myanmar.

“Pinipilit tayo ng Malaysia na huwag na pansinin ang nangyayari sa Myanmar. (Malaysia is trying to convince us to just ignore what’s happening),” said Cojuangco.

“Ginagawa din naman daw ng lahat yan ang ginawa din daw natin (And that everybody does that and that we did it, too),” said Cojuangco.

The Malaysian official must be referring to the Philippines’ hosting of the 2005 SEA Games when it won the overall title for the first time in history.

Cojuangco said that in 2005, the Philippines only included arnis as its indigenous sport, and that the hosts only won three of the six golds.

The POC chief said that while wushu was played in Manila, it’s not a Filipino sport, and that it’s being played by most countries in the region.

Myanmar has added close to 60 golds this year, 18 each from martial arts sports like vovinam and kempo, and another eight in chinlone (cane ball).

Cojuangco said these are sports that are almost unfamiliar to the most countries. Myanmar also added 10 events in chess, which are also unfamiliar to the rest.

Butch Pichay, president of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, pleaded his case before Myanmar officials but they fell on deaf ears.

“Mr. Pichay asked if Myanmar could scratch some of the events they added. But they refused. Ayaw daw. Tayo na lang daw ang magdagdag,” said Cojuangco.

“In other words, inaamin na nila (it’s an admission). It’s so obvious they need the medals,” said Cojuangco, still pursuing the possibility of sending just a token delegation to Myan

“I don’t see how we can completely participate in something like that. But I’m not saying we should boycott. We cannot do that,” he said.