SEA Games won’t extend beyond Dec. 11 despite typhoon threat

MANILA, Philippines — Organizers of the 30th Southeast Asian Games are drafting a contingency plan to prepare for the approaching Typhoon Kammuri, which threatens to affect some of the venues for the biennial meet.

Executive director Tom Carrasco of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) said they will meet with venue managers on Friday to discuss the oncoming weather disturbance, which is likely to bring vast rains and strong winds in Central and Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila.

According to the state weather bureau, Typhoon Kammuri may have a “direct effect” on the SEA Games events on December 3 and 4.

Some of the outdoor events scheduled at Subic, one of the major hubs of the Games, on the said dates are sailing, canoe and kayak races, beach volleyball, and modern pentathlon, among others.

At Clark, baseball and softball games are scheduled at The Villages on both days while some swimming events are at New Clark City Aquatics Stadium.

The obstacle course races and cycling events are also expected on December 4 at Filinvest City in Alabang and Tagaytay, respectively.

But in the case of the triathlon, whose mixed relay event is scheduled on December 4 after the individual races this Sunday, “rains don’t matter,” Carrasco said.

Nonetheless, Phisgoc said it will be consulting the chef de missions of the participating countries to prepare for the eventuality of resetting some events, but Carrasco said the Games will not extend beyond the scheduled closing on December 11.

“In that case, we have breaks or rest days that we can use. But definitely, the Games won’t go beyond December 11,” he said.