INQUIRER Sports

THE PHILIPPINES is one of four countries which have yet to submit their lineups to the Laos Southeast Asian Games organizing committee, according to Internet reports.

With an ongoing spat between the bankrolling Philippine Sports Commission and the sanctioning Philippine Olympic Committee, the country joined host Laos, Cambodia and Thailand which have yet to furnish the committee their final lineup for the Games in Vientiane on Dec. 9 to 18.

“We want these countries to send the completed forms to our committee before our meeting on Nov. 9,” committee member Volavin Sibounnong was quoted by Vientianetimes as saying. “We need to know the number so we can divide competitors into groups for each event, so it’s important for us to know the exact number before the meeting.”

RP delegation chief of mission Mario Tanchangco, however, told the Inquirer that they have submitted the final roster by names last Thursday.

As of Oct. 20, the Games organizers counted 4,278 athletes from 11 countries to attend the Games, but they still have to get the entries by names from the four remaining nations including the Philippines, the 2005 overall champion.

According to the report, the Philippines listed 775 athletes and officials, while Vietnam submitted 600, Cambodia 224 and Laos 661.

By all accounts, the number of RP participants will be drastically cut down as the POC only approved 251 athletes and 88 officials.