NO SIZEABLE CROWD THERE, SAYS NSA LEADER Weightlifting wants out of Subic

The Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) is banking on the support of the other participating nations in its appeal for a change of venue for the 30th SEA Games.

“I will ask all SEA Games countries participating in weightlifting to request the transfer,” SWP president Monico Puentevella told The STAR yesterday.

Organizers have placed weightlifting, which offers 10 gold medals in this year’s SEA Games, under the Subic cluster, along with 15 other sports.

These are beach volleyball, beach handball, chess, muay, vovinam, pencak silat, table tennis, karatedo, sepak takraw, modern pentathlon, obstacle sport, sailing, windsurfing, traditional boat race, triathlon and duathlon.

But Puentevella insists that Subic is not the place for weightlifting.

“It’s the wrong place. Walang tao doon (No crowd),” said the former Philippine Olympic Committee chairman.

With nine months to the Games, Puentevella thinks there’s enough time to move weightlifting from the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

Filipino weightlifters led by 2016 Olympics silver medalist and 2018 Asian Games gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz can rely heavily on crowd support.

“I’m looking at Glorietta or Trinoma,” said Puentevella, referring to two of the most popular malls in Metro Manila.

Puentevella can almost guarantee the crowd to come and support Diaz and company if competitions were held elsewhere.

“Ayala has agreed to help (with the venue) at no expense and more promotion for the Olympic sport,” he said.

Puentevella has aired his appeal before Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez and is also counting on the support of POC president Ricky Vargas.

“I believe Mr. Vargas will also side with us on this matter,” he said.