SEA Games committee, NSA concerns in POC meet

The sports and events committee for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games will be the top priority when the Philippine Olympic Committee general assembly convenes Friday at Century Park Hotel Manila.

But part of the meeting will be used to sort out issues brought up recently by national sports associations heads.

The committee, according to POC secretary general Steve Hontiveros, would help determine the venues needed when the country stages the biennial Games for the fourth time.

“We need the new chef de mission, Monsour del Rosario, to present his plans,” said Hontiveros.

Taekwondo’s Del Rosario is currently abroad and will be represented by his deputy, karate’s Raymund Lee-Reyes.

The Philippines ruled the 2005 Manila SEA Games partly due to careful planning by the sports and events committee then headed by former track and field boss Go Teng Kok.

Hontiveros said NSA leaders will get to air the grievances raised in a meeting last Tuesday.

Though the group of 18 leaders didn’t exactly ask for change in the POC leadership, they are demanding changes to improve the state of Philippine sports.

“We will discuss it, but they have to allow the president (Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr.,) to address it later,” said Hontiveros. “We will make it a positive thing rather than negative.”