Manila ready to host biggest SEA Games ever

The Southeast Asian Games has never been this big.

When the Philippines hosts next year’s edition of the biennial meet, unfurling the slogan “We Win As One,” the 11 participating nations will compete in the largest staging in terms of sports events calendared.

The 60-year-old event has never been able to list 56 sports in its calendar of events.

The Philippines, however, has the confidence and drive to stage an event of such magnitude. The 30th edition of the Games offers a total of 529 gold medals during the hostilities from Nov. 30 to Dec. 10 next year.

“It’s final. We’re looking at the biggest hosting of the SEA Games,” said Philippine Olympic Committee chair Abraham Tolentino after the SEA Games Federation Council meeting held at Conrad Hotel in Pasay City over the weekend.

Tolentino, director of the sports department of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc), explained that there would be no more changes in the 56 sports to be fielded but the number of events would be finalized on Dec. 15.

Representatives from all 11 countries were present during the two-day meet with Philippine Olympic Committee chief Ricky Vargas presiding.

“Some of the council members are saying that with what they have seen, we are ready,” said Vargas.

The 56 sports will be held in Clark, Pampanga, (21 sports), Subic (14), Metro Manila (19) and Batangas, La Union and Tagaytay with four.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Sports Commission issued an apology for the wrong photo of baseball/softball icon Filomeno “Boy” Codiñera that was used for the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame Awards.

The PSC said in a statement that the photo was sent to the secretariat by Ana Theresa Codiñera, the granddaughter of the awardee.