Showing the Filipinos’ world-class hospitality is one thing and winning the overall championship in the coming 30th SEA Games is another.
While he expects the Filipinos to be gracious hosts during the 11-day sports extravaganza, Rep. Mikee Romero is calling on all national athletes to train as hard as possible and play their hearts out during the competitions to have a bigger chance of winning the overall championship.
“We can achieve a SEAG double if we will win also the overall championship for the first time since 2005,” said Romero. “With the way our officials are doing their jobs I’m sure we will have a successful hosting of the biennial meet.”
“That way we will have a double celebration,” said Romero, who was the godfather of the Philippine basketball team that won gold medal in Ratchasima, Thailand in 2007.
The last time the country hosted the region’s most awaited sporting event was in 2005 and the Filipino athletes stood tallest at the close of the competitions after winning 113 gold medals, 26 better than the Thai athletes.
Apart from being the owner of NorthPort club in the PBA, Romero is also the chairman of the country’s biggest polo association which is out to contribute at least three golds to the country’s cause.
Romero also lauded the move of the Philippine SEAG Organizing Committee for launching the volunteer program noting that it will greatly help foreign athletes, coaches and spectators. The volunteers will be deployed in various venues in Tarlac, Subic, Bulacan, La Union, Tagaytay and Manila.
“Let us embrace the ‘bayanihan’ spirit so that they will know how gracious we are as hosts,” said Romero, who headed the shooting team to the London Games in 2012.
This early, Romero is encouraging local officials to put SEAG banners to further enhance the awareness for the biennial event.