POC still not giving up on SEA Games hosting

The Philippine Olympic Committee still has no final stand on whether or not the country will host the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

The POC executive board has decided to defer its decision on the hosting of the event until the SEA Games Council meeting on Friday, a day ahead of the 29th SEA Games opening ceremonies in Kuala Lumpur.

“The POC will wait for President Duterte’s reply on POC president Peping Cojuangco’s letter of appeal,” the local Olympic body’s executive board announced in a statement.

Top POC officials are torn between giving up the hosting of the biennial Games for good or convince President Duterte to reconsider.

Majority of the POC top brass has acknowledged that organizing the SEA Games in Manila will be next to impossible without the backing of the government.

Once the Philippines relinquishes its rights, either perennial overall champion Thailand or 2018 Asian Games host Indonesia will take over the 2019 edition.

Malacañang earlier begged off to host the 11-nation sportsfest two years from now due to the ongoing crisis in Marawi City.

Meanwhile, in Baguio City, the Philippine Sports Commission is all set to kick off its Children’s Games.

Aiming to strengthen and deepen grassroots sports with special focus on children, the PSC is expecting hundreds of children to participate in the Games to be held at Baguio Athletic Bowl where they will compete in volleyball, football, basketball and larong Pinoy, among others.