Obstacle sports is demo event

MANILA, Philippines — Obstacle sports will make its debut in the 30th SEA Games this year not as a regular sport but as a demonstration sport.

Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) executive director Tom Carrasco yesterday said the decision came after the sport drew only three entries out of 11 member countries.

Only the Philippines, Malaysia and Myanmar submitted entries by number for obstacle sports. It was short of the required number of four participating countries.

“Obstacle course is now out as a regular event because they have only three participating countries,” said Carrasco.

“But they’ve requested to still be included as a demo event, which could be possible,” he added.

Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation (POSF) president Al Agra had high hopes for the sport making its debut in the SEA Games.

The POSF chief had prepared a strong team for the SEA Games in November, and had set a high target of winning all six gold medals to be disputed.

Last week, Carrasco announced that women’s baseball was scratched from the calendar of events also due to lack of entries.

Only the Philippines and Indonesia fielded entries in women’s baseball.

Carrasco also announced yesterday the inclusion of men’s and women’s 5,000 meters, men’s and women’s 10,000 meters and men’s and women’s 20,000 meters walk in the athletics competition.

 A total of 523 events will be played in the biennial event set from Nov. 30 to Dec. 10 held in different venues like Clark, Manila and Subic.