Pangilinan 'a little worried' about possible 2019 schedule pile-up with World Cup, SEA Games

THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) expressed some concern that the 2019 Fiba World Cup is going to be held in the same year as the Southeast Asian Games, which the country is hosting.

If it wins its bid to host the world basketball showpiece four years from now, the Philippines will end up hosting two major sporting events that year.

SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan expressed concern that it will affect preparations for the World Cup, should the country beat China for the hosting rights.

“A little bit (worried),” Pangilinan admitted. “But I guess it’s (SEA Games) a regional event.”

The schedule for both events has yet to be announced, but they are not expected to overlap. The SEA Games this year in Singapore was held in June, while the biennial meet two years in Myanmar was held in December.

The 2014 World Cup in Spain, on the other hand, was held in September.

The two Australian consultants the SBP hired to help in the country’s bid also aired little concern of the possible clash in schedule.

“That’s something that’s on the back of our mind,” said Ian Rumsby, chief strategy officer (Asia Pacific) of Weber Shandwick, a public relations firm giant. “But I think this has been very much a focus of energy and effort in supporting the World Cup bid that there is a number of individuals that are focusing on this goal.”

“(It’s not only one group that) will be charged with the responsibility of running both events,” said Sean Nicholls, president (Asia Pacific) of Octagon, for his part. “There will be a separate entity that will run the World Cup and I’m sure there’ll be another entity that will run the Southeast Asian Games.”

“So in terms of the country’s ability to deliver both events, there’s no doubt it can,” he added.

Source: Karlo Sacamos of Spin.ph

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Can Philippines host 2019 SEA Games using existing facilities? POC thinks so

THE Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) expressed confidence the country is capable of hosting the 2019 Southeast Asian Games without having to build new facilities, banking on the Filipinos' 'managerial expertise' to get the job done.

POC vice-president Joey Romasanta said the SEA Games Federation didn't require new facilities to be built for the 2019 showpiece, which it awarded to the Philippines after Brunei pulled out.

“Sabi ng SEA Games Federation, we will be going to make do with what we have," said Romasanta, although he added that the federation ruled out a set-up similar to the 2005 Games when events were held in Cebu and Bacolod.

‘Wag lang mapupunta sa Cebu or Bacolod. Kung puwede daw, within the area na lang na accessible within Luzon,” he added.

The POC is targeting modern facilities such as the Iglesia Ni Cristo-owned Philippine Stadium and Philippine Arena as well as the Mall of Asia Arena to stage the major events, Romasanta said.

On the other hand, athletes will likely be billeted in hotels in the absence of an Athletes' Village, similar to the set-up done in the last SEA Games in Singapore.

“Considering na wala tayong Athletes Village, gagawin natin ‘yung ginawa katulad ng Singapore and nung 2005 na sa mga hotels,” said Romasanta.

Romasanta expressed confidence the country can put it all together despite the limitations. 

“We have management and organizational expertise. I think we have more than enough,” said Romasanta.

The POC is set to formally accept the hosting rights for the 2019 showcase during the next SEA Games Federation Council Meeting, likely by March of next year.

Romasanta said only a government guarantee of support is needed to complete the process.

“Ang kailangan na lang natin is ‘yung government guarantee. It doesn’t say that the government will guarantee the cost. They have to guarantee ‘yung government support like ‘yung police, Armed Forces, immigration, customs, etc.,” said Romasanta.

Romasanta said they intend to make the request to the Office of the President once they receive the documents awarding the 2019 hosting rights to the Philippines.

“Kailangan siguro unahin muna natin na ma-formalize … Kapag hawak na natin ‘yun, saka natin idudulog sa Palasyo para ika nga bigyan ng kaukulang basbas ‘yung particular request,” said Romasanta.

Romasanta said the number of sports will still be determined at a later date.

“We still have to identify kung ano lalaruin. Considering that magkakaroon ng meeting na ang agenda ay ‘yung 2017 SEA Games, part of it is mapag-uusapan definitely ‘yung hosting of 2019 and also what will probably be the sports and events,” said Romasanta.

Source: Reuben Terrado of Spin.ph

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It’s official: PH agrees to host 2019 SEA Games

The Philippines has formally assumed the responsibility of hosting the 2019 Southeast Asian Games without promising to build a new stadium.

Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia announced Thursday that existing facilities would be used in the Manila SEA Games with the bulk of the events to be held in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Philippine Olympic Committee first vice president Joey Romasanta earlier confirmed that the POC executive board had passed a resolution accepting the hosting chores for the 2019 Games. He said the POC would officially communicate the decision to the SEA Games Federation, the policy-making body of the 11-nation regional competition.

“It’s very hard to make a projection (budget for the Games) because it will happen four years from now,” said Garcia. “But we have a general idea as to how much it will cost because we are not going to build any large infrastructure.”

Malaysia will host the biennial meet in 2017 with a budget said to be between $180 million (P8.1 billion) and $220 million. Singapore spent about $240 million in hosting the SEA Games last month.

“We’re going to maximize the use of existing facilities that we also used in the 2005 Games here, plus we will approach the (management of) Mall of Asia and Iglesia (Ni Cristo) for their facilities,” said Garcia. “We’ll use Subic (Freeport) for watersports.

“As far as cost is concerned, I don’t think the amount will be that big.”

The INC owns a modern sports complex in Bocaue, Bulacan. It features the Philippine Arena, the world’s largest indoor multipurpose arena with a seating capacity of 55,000, and a 20,000-seater Philippine Sports Stadium.

The MOA, owned by the SM Mall chain, has a world-class MOA Arena and a huge exhibition and convention center that could hold competitions in several sports.

Romasanta said the POC would soon form the Manila SEA Games organizing committee and then ask the President to issue an executive order directing all government agencies to provide assistance.

“With our acceptance (of the hosting job), we’re now going to present this to the government,” he said. “This is an honor for our country, so I don’t think our hosting will be affected by the change of administration.”

The country last hosted the Games in 2005 and won the overall title for the first time.

Source: June Navarro of Inquirer.net

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PH has facilities to host 2019 SEA Games—PSC chair Garcia

We can stage the Southeast Asian Games anytime.

This was the assurance of Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia who said the country has enough facilities to stage the biennial event in 2019.

Garcia said that when the Philippines last hosted the Games in 2005, “we still don’t have MOA Arena and the Philippine Arena.”

He was referring to the world class Mall of Asia Arena which hosted the Fiba Asia Championships last year, and the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, which can seat 50,000 people.

The PSC chief added that with refurbishing of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the 80-year-old facility can still be used.

“As much as possible we want to hold the games within Metro Manila and other venues that can be reached by car,” said Garcia.

He has earlier bared that the PSC allotted P80 million to repair the tennis courts, football pitch, Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Ninoy Aquino Stadium and the baseball park.

Singapore, the host of the recent SEA Games, has reportedly spent SG$300 million just for the operations of the three-week spectacle that coincided with its 50th foundation.

Source: Marc Anthony Reyes of Inquirer.net

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PHL ready to host 2019 SEAG says Garcia

MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Ritchie Garcia is confident that the Philippines is up to the task of hosting the SEA Games in 2019 owing to the new infrastructures built after the country's last hosting in 2005.

Brunei recently backed out of its hosting rights in 2019 and the other member countries during the recent SEA Games in Singapore were vouching for the Philippines to host the biennial event.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Peping Cojuangco said that all it needs is a formal letter of intent before giving it a go.

Unlike before, when the Philippines last hosted the SEA Games in 2005, some of the competitions were held in Bacolod and Cebu, but because of more venues around Metro Manila this time, Garcia said that the country is now more logistically prepared.

“When the country last hosted in 2005, wala pa yung Mall of Asia Arena, Philippine Arena sa Bulacan yung ibang football stadiums, there is a bigger possibility that all the games will be held in Luzon area, the farthest will only be in Subic and Clark. During the last Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, we had to travel more than 2 hours to watch Taekwondo," said Garcia during the opening of the Philippine National Games held in the Rizal Memorial Stadium Badminton Hall.

“We have around P50 million to P80 million to renovate the Rizal Memorial Stadium and Nonoy Aquino Stadium”, added the PSC official.

With four years to prepare, Garcia is confident the renovations will be done in time. Malaysia will host the next SEA Games in 2017.

“The swimming pools, the football fields, tennis courts. Everything are being fixed and renovated for the future. The requirements are being set for international competitions," Garcia said.

Source: Earl Leonard Sebastian of Philippine Star

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