Body gives Vietnam deadline to decide on SEA Games hosting

FILE – POC president Bambol Tolentino. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino revealed on Monday that the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Federation gave Vietnam until October to decide whether to stage the postponed SEA Games in 2022 at the latest or cancel it for good.

“The consensus was for Vietnam to make a decision. Otherwise, the 31st SEA Games would be canceled,” said Tolentino.

Federation officials met online and pushed for a late May 2022 staging, which could be most convenient and reasonable for all 11 member countries.

“There are three major Asian and two international competitions in 2022,” explained Tolentino. “That leaves Vietnam a very small window to hold the SEA Games.”

The Thailand Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games are scheduled from March 10 to 20, Huangzhou Asian Games from Sept. 10 to 25 and Shantou Asian Youth Games from Dec. 20 to 28.

The Beijing Winter Olympics are set from Feb. 4 to 20 and the International Olympic Committee-sanctioned World Games are from July 7 to 22 in Birmingham, Alabama, Unites States.

The schedule of the Hanoi 31st SEA Games is crucial considering that the next edition will be held in Cambodia the following year. INQ