Athletes, coaches and officials unite as they led the flag raising ceremony at the Athletes Village in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac. Photo from Team Philippines SEAG Facebook
MANILA, Philippines–Flags of all competing nations for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games were raised in a simple ceremony at the plaza of the Athletes Village at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac on Friday.
A day before the biennial meet officially opens, the delegations from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam, and the host Philippines were welcomed at the official residence of the athletes.
The colors of the respective countries were raised in alphabetical order. The Philippines was last to raise the flag as hosts, according to Philippines deputy chef de mission Stephen Fernandez.
“It was a very simple program with either the chief of mission or deputy chief of mission leading the respective delegations,” said Fernandez, who represented Team Philippines’ CDM Butch Ramirez.
Fernandez expects the bulk of the delegation to arrive at the Athletes Village starting today with the majority of the events kicking off the day after opening ceremonies at Philippine Arena on Saturday.
Athletes who will be participating in events in Clark and neighboring Pampanga will also be staying at the Athletes Villages. Celest Flores-Colina