Team Philippines will not waste time, preparing its athletes regardless of the circumstances surrounding Vietnam’s hosting of the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEAG).
Commissioner Ramon Fernandez of the Philippine Sports Commission said numerous national sports associations (NSAs) have jumpstarted the training of their athletes, even though there’s no confirmed schedule from Hanoi.
“There’s no word yet from Vietnam, but we have already approved the training requests of several NSAs for their athletes,’’ Fernandez, the Team Philippines SEAG chef de mission, told the Inquirer.
The former basketball superstar and four-time Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player said karate and boxing would begin setting up camp in Baguio City as well as track and field.
Muay is likewise eyeing the City of Pines as a training ground, kickboxing is already busy working out in high-altitude Benguet, while sepak takraw intends to assemble its bubble training in the Ilocos region.
Canoe-kayak will prepare its paddlers in Tacloban City, the national archery team has found a host in Dumaguete City and fencing camps in Ormoc City through mayor Richard Gomez, the fencing chief and 2nd vice president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
Vietnam’s staging was supposed to happen this year before a spike in COVID-19 cases forced its postponement.