Philippine officials to check on SEA Games concerns

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine chef de mission deputies Romeo Magat of tennis and Julian Camacho of wushu flew Sunday to Indonesia to check on the venues, billeting and other concerns that could affect the country’s participation in the Southeast Asian Games next month.

The two are under instructions from the Philippine Olympic Committee to get a clear picture of the situation and make necessary adjustments for the national delegation for the Nov.11-22 meet.

According to Jakarta Globe, a leading newspaper in the host city, trucks and heavy equipment are still present at venues such as the Jakabaring Sports City aquatic center with less than a month left.

Construction of several other venues in Palembang, the main hub of the Games, is also behind schedule.

“We’ve been hearing news that aquatics will be transferred to Jakarta while organizers also raised billeting and accommodation concerns in a recent communication,” said Magat, secretary general of the Philippine Tennis Association.

Aside from the aquatic center, the progress of work for the venues in athletics, beach volleyball and baseball has been painfully slow in Palembang.

“The organizers assured us that every thing is on schedule. We want to know the real score and be prepared for any unexpected situation that could harm our bid,” said Magat, who will tour the venues in both Palembang and Jakarta with Camacho.

Indonesia is hosting the biggest SEA Games in history with 42 sports featuring 500 events.

Magat is the pointman in Palembang, the hub of the games, while Camacho has been assigned in Jakarta.

The country plans to send a 745-strong contingent, 534 of them athletes who will compete in 39 sports.

Jakarta Globe also reported that organizers may have to deal with the likely possibility of flooding once inclement weather hits Palembang.

According to the report, the South Sumatra capital has a history of flooding—48 times last year alone—during the ongoing wet season.

Worse, the Globe quoted Hadi Jatmiko, an official of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment, as saying that the Jakabaring Sports City is built on a swamp.

Jatmiko opposed the construction of the stadium, believing it could worsen flooding in the city.

The Jakabaring Sports City houses all aquatic events (swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, fin swimming athletics), athletics, baseball, pétanque, roller skating, shooting, softball, tennis and soft tennis, beach volleyball, wall climbing and water skiing.