Super Bowl-like opening eyed

A world-renowned recording artist will light up the opening ceremonies of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

The Philippines Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PhilsGOC) said yesterday that negotiations are underway for the unnamed concert king to provide the fireworks when the Philippines hosts the Nov. 30Dec. 11 SEAG.

The inaugurals will be held at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, according to PhilsGOC executive director Ramon Suzara, who is presiding over a key meeting involving technical delegates from the 11 SEAG nations at the Diamond Hotel.

Suzara said the importation of the topnotch singer could serve as trend-setter and is inspired by the halftime show during the Super Bowl in the US where the National Football League once tapped the likes of Michael Jackson, Madonna, Beyonce, Prince, Justin Timberlake, Paul McCartney, and Lady Gaga.

“It’ll be a change from the traditional opening ceremonies we are all familiar with,” said Suzara.

“We want to surpass Singapore and Malaysia in hosting because these two countries are excellent organizers,” said Suzara, who counts the Philippine Olympic Committee leadership as a prime mover in making the staging successful.

This early, Ibrahim Naddeh, a swimming technical delegate from Jordan, is amazed by the conduct of the PhilsGOC’s preparations.

“I am really impressed and it seems the completion of the competition venue (for swimming) will be done by end of May,” said Naddeh, noting that the target date that was initially given was end of August.