FLAME HANDOVER STARTS HOSTING COUNTDOWN

KUALA Lumpur—taekwondo champion Pauline Lopez and boxer Ian Clark Bautista will be part of the Philippine delegation when it receives the Southeast Asian Games flame from previous host Malaysia.

The flame handover is a traditional ceremony involving the past and current host of the biennial meet. The Philippines will host the 30th SEA Games starting Nov. 30 this year.

“It’s going to be a big responsibility for us. Hosting the 10 other countries back home during the Games will be challenging,” said Lopez, an Asian Games bronze medalist.

Malaysia Olympic Committee president Norza Zakaria will present the flame to the Philippines, which will be represented by Philippine Olympic Committee board member Cynthia Carrion during the ceremonial lighting of the lantern at Bukit Jalil National Stadium here.

Commissioner Celia Kiram of the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee chief operating officer Ramon Suzara will also

grace the activity signaling the countdown of the opening ceremony on Nov. 30 at Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

“Malaysia hosted one of the best SEA Games editions, and we will do our best and try to be at par with them in hosting these Games,” Kiram said.

Once the lantern carrying the symbolic flame arrives in the Philippines, it will begin a series of torch runs in Davao City, Cebu City and Clark.

The torch, designed by foremost metal sculptor Daniel dela Cruz, will likewise be presented to Malacañang, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“As we receive the flame from Malaysia, we also receive the responsibilities that comes with hosting the flame in our country,” Suzara said.