’19 SEAG initial test for region’s bets

Philippine Olympic Committee president Peping Cojuangco tasked the national sports associations (NSAs) to submit a position paper justifying their inclusion in the program of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games the country will be hosting. “This early, I want to know how interested they are; we want them to tell us why they should be there,” Cojuangco said after yesterday’s general assembly.

The POC chief stressed the country wants to make sure the sports and events in the final roster in 2019 will be in keeping with the biennial games’ real purpose of preparing participants for the big battles ahead.

“We won’t be following what other hosts are doing. My focus has always been to follow the dictates of the SEA Games, which is the very purpose and objective is to use it to prepare the athletes for the Asian Games and the Olympics, this is why we’re held every two years,” he said.

“What’s happening is that hosts usually add a lot of sports at the expense of Olympic sports,” he added.

Sen. Migs Zubiri has been appointed chairman of the SEAG Organizing Committee with Cojuangco and Philippine Sports Commission head Butch Ramirez as co-chair.

Officials eye Central Luzon and Davao del Norte as possible main hubs for the November 2019 joust.

“We’re looking at Central Luzon and Davao del Norte because of the facilities already there. We can also tap the Iglesia ni Cristo facility (Philippine Sports Stadium and Philippine Arena in Bocaue), a few in Clarkfield, a few in Iba, Zambales,” Cojuangco said.