With over 2,000 Filipino athletes competing on home turf and backed by an enormous budget, it will be a disappointment if the Philippines cannot claim the overall title of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
The Philippines has listed the biggest delegation in the Games that will be played here from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11, when 523 golds will be staked in 56 sports.
The budget? A whopping P5 billion for the preparations and operations of the two-week sportsfest among 11 nations.
“With the money that we will have, our goal is to win the overall title,” said Philippine Sports Commission Chair Butch Ramirez.
Filipino athletes ruled the SEA Games for the first time during the 2005 edition when Manila last hosted the meet.
The rest of the participating countries have entered a combined 11,300 athletes for the Games, which will be held in New Clark City, Subic, Metro Manila and Tagaytay City.