The Philippine delegation led by flag bearer Alyssa Valdez parade during the Opening Ceremony of the 28th SEA Games held at the Singapore National Stadium, Singapore Sports Hub.
INQUIRER PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA
We can stage the Southeast Asian Games anytime.
This was the assurance of Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia who said the country has enough facilities to stage the biennial event in 2019.
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Garcia said that when the Philippines last hosted the Games in 2005, “we still don’t have MOA Arena and the Philippine Arena.”
He was referring to the world class Mall of Asia Arena which hosted the Fiba Asia Championships last year, and the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, which can seat 50,000 people.
The PSC chief added that with refurbishing of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the 80-year-old facility can still be used.
“As much as possible we want to hold the games within Metro Manila and other venues that we can reached by car,” said Garcia.
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He has earlier bared that the PSC allotted P80 million to repair the tennis courts, football pitch, Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Ninoy Aquino Stadium and the baseball park.
Singapore, the host of the recent SEA Games, has reportedly spent SG$300 million just for the operations of the three-week spectacle that coincided with its 50th foundation.