The ongoing preparations for the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games and the training of national athletes for the said biennial meet must not be affected by ongoing leadership issues affecting the Philippine Olympic Committee.
Officials of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission said this some three days after the surprise resignation of POC President Ricky Vargas.
Since then, POC vice president Joey Romasanta has assumed the post that Vargas has vacated.
PHISGOC chairman and Taguig City congressman Alan Peter Cayetano said they are keen on making good the hosting of the biennial meet when it begins on Nov. 30.
“We will follow the President’s instructions. We will work hard to make good hosting and call for unity,” said Cayetano following a briefing yesteday at the Kabisera inside the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.
Cayetano and Ramirez met with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Wednesday evening to appraise Medialdea on the status of the preparations of the Games in Malacanang.
Ramirez, on the other hand, said he received instructions for the government sports agency to help “seclude and isolate” the athletes from the issues surrounding Vargas’ resignation.
“We must isolate our athletes from all these issues so they can focus on their mission,” said Ramirez in a separate briefing the PSC offices in Vito Cruz, Manila.
The Phisgoc is currently the numerous venues of the Games, with facilities in Metro Manila expected to be ready ahead of time.
Aside from venues at the New Clark City in Tarlac, Phisgoc officials said they are readying the venues for events that will be held in Metro Manila need not worry. That’s because the venues will be ready at least two months before the Games begin.
As the chef de mission of the national delegation, Ramirez has already met with eleven sports associations which have been consulted on their needs last week.
The national sports associations of boxing, pencak silat, wrestling, skateboarding, sambo, muaythai, wushu, judo, karatedo and arnis were all represented have already sought the help of the PSC in its to get ready for the biennial meet.
Ramirez is set to host a fellowship assembly between the NSAs, national coaches and athletes on July 5.