Two more sports disciplines which have been recommended for inclusion have gained support from members of the Southeast Asian Games Federation Council.
Netball and handball are expected to be in the calendar of events, according to officials after the council held extraordinary meetings Saturday and Sunday at the Conrad Hotel.
A total of 56 sports events are now listed after Philippine Olympic Committee chairman and Congressman Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino chaired the crucial meeting of the Sports and Rules group.
The meeting of the Sports and Rules group is one of two gatherings held over the weekend to assure smooth sailing when the official Council meetings come around in the last week of November.
By then, the formal countdown to the Games will start with ceremonies on Nov. 30 at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.
Another meeting, which is that of the Broadcast Committee, tied some loose ends and streamlined recommendations to the council.
POC President Ricky Vargas, who also acts as the Federation President for the Philippine staging of the games in 2019, presided over the Broadcast meeting Saturday. Delegates from the 10 other countries in the Southeast Asian region had animated but cordial discussions regarding the myriad issues involved in the two departments.
Vargas said he was “more than satisfied with the conduct, cooperation and diligence of all participants who showed that “foremost in their minds were the friendship and camaraderie among SEA countries, and the common objective of strengthening sports development in the region”.
On the other hand, Tolentino said there were some apprehensions from some quarters about possible disagreements over the inclusion or exclusion of some events.
But, Tolentino assured the delegates that, “we had a trouble-free meeting with everyone agreeing to respect each other’s views. In so doing, we were able to arrive at important decisions which we will submit to the executive committee and eventually to the Council for final approval.”
The foreign delegates arrived Saturday morning and went home to their respective countries Sunday evening or Monday morning.
Also attending the meeting were former POC president Celso Dayrit, chairman of the SEA Games executive committee, Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee executive director Ramon Suzara, and PHISGOC director general Patrick Gregorio.
The body appointed Robert Bachmann as POC representative to PHISGOC marketing, while Pauline Ick and PHISGOC broadcast director, and Ed Picson was named POC president on broadcast.