FILE–Southeast Asian Games turnover rights. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines — The much-delayed 31st Southeast Asian Games is set to push through in May next year with host Vietnam expected to make the announcement next week, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said Saturday.
According to Tolentino, Thailand is also due to announce the postponement of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) to 2023 within the same timeframe.
“We are expecting both governments of Thailand and Vietnam to make the official announcements next week,” Tolentino said.
“I believe it (SEA Games) would be in the latter part of May 2022.”
The AIMAG was originally scheduled from March 10 to 20 next year in Bangkok and Chonburi but the quadrennial event had to be pushed back due to health and safety reasons.
The SEA Games, meanwhile, was supposed to take place from November 21 to December 2 this year.
As a result, Tolentino said the additional budget amounting to P650 million that the House and Senate agreed to add to the Philippine Sports Commission’s coffers in 2022 would have to be reduced.
“As I have committed in my manifestation during the budget hearing for the PSC, the budget for any of these games that will be canceled or postponed will have to be excluded or returned to the National Treasury,” he said.