National Olympic chief Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. yesterday hailed the inclusion of more Olympic sports in the Southeast Asian Games as a step in the right direction.
Cojuangco said the recent decision of the SEA Games Federation Council to prioritize Olympic sports is the proper way to prepare the national athletes for bigger events such as the Asian Games and the Olympics.
“When I started (as POC president), I was informed that the intention of the SEA Games was to become a stepping stone or ladder for the Olympics,” said Cojuangco, who was elected in 2004.
“Unfortunately, the countries (in the SEA Games) became too friendly, too accommodating and the objective hasn’t been achieved.”
Cojuangco’s expectations in the biennial sportsfest will become a reality next year in Myanmar after the SEA Games Council limited the total number of sports to 32, 21 of them Olympic sports.
The meeting held recently in Myanmar also allowed the host country to include just one indigenous sport in the roster of events.
POC secretary general Steve Hontiveros said the council wants to avoid a repeat of last year’s Games in Indonesia, where 545 events in 44 sports were disputed, including a handful of non-traditional and indigenous disciplines.
Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia also commended the move of the SEA Games council, saying host countries normally cash in on sports of their choice to boost their bid of the overall championship.
Garcia said indigenous and nontraditional events that could provide an unfair edge for host countries should fall under demonstration sports.
“Focus should be on Olympic sports,” said Garcia. “If they allow the host country to include more sports, these should not be part of the medal tally.”