THE private sector is welcome to come aboard and support the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco said this after the POC General Assembly unanimously supported a move to make an appeal to President Duterte to let the Games still be held in the country two years from now.
“We can operate (without government financial assistance),” said Cojuangco at the end of the meeting Wednesday at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong.
Around 21 heads and representatives of national sports associations were present to give their nod to the proposal to make an appeal before President Duterte.
Cojuangco said Mr. Duterte needs to see the big picture, like when the country last hosted the Games in 2005.
At that time, the government, with Gloria Arroyo still the president, spent around P350 million to run the Games, with First Gentleman Mike Arroyo also pitching in.
He added that with the private sector around, the Games can go on.
And with government financial assistance around, the hosting will be even better.
“It will all depend, if we get everybody to support,” said Cojuangco.
Sports officials believe that they can push through with the hosting if they hold the games in major cities other than Davao City.
The government’s decision not be involved in the hosting in 2019 stems from its plan to re-channel government resources in favor of the rehabilitation efforts for the beleaguered city of Marawi.
In a letter by Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez last Friday to POC president Cojuangco, the government announced that it shall no longer proceed with their support in the country’s hosting of the SEA Games.
Cojuangco believes that the situation which started with the siege of Marawi City last May may no longer be around two years from now.
“Baka iba na ang situation two years from. Iba na peace and order situation,” said Cojuangco.
And this is the reason why sports officials are still upbeat about the Games being held in the country.
On the other hand, Indonesia and Thailand have already come forward to bid for the hosting of the 2019 Games.
