POC sets meet on ’19 SEAG

The Philippine Olympic Committee is preparing to host a vital meeting of the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) in Manila in May.

“We’re proposing to hold it on May 16-17,” POC secretary general Pato Gregorio said.

According to Gregorio, the assembly, to be attended by top officials of the 11 participating countries, is important as it will take up the number of sports and events to be calendared in the 2019 SEAG. He said another important meeting is in the pipeline by November, wherein the lobbying for inclusion or addition of events is expected to reach fever pitch.

Sixth overall in 2017, the Philippines will be looking to make the most of its hosting rights to regain old glory and possibly top the medal standings like it did when the Pinoy bets surged to No. 1 in the 2005 edition played in Manila.

For next year’s staging, the organizing committee led by Foreign Affairs Sec. Alan Peter Cayetano, is looking at Clark as the main hub of the Nov. 30-Dec. 9, 2019 Games with Subic and Manila as satellite sites.

Officials have gotten the ball rolling in preparing for the hosting with the new leadership of the POC and representatives of Cayetano and the Philippine Sports Commission initiating a series of talks.