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Philippines hit over SEA Games snafus

MANILA — The Philippines, the host of this year’s South-east Asian (SEA) Games, came under fire on Sunday (Nov 24) over the shabby welcome given to arriving athletes from four countries.

Photos posted on social media show members of Cambodia’s football team sleeping on the floor.

Photos posted on social media show members of Cambodia’s football team sleeping on the floor.

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MANILA — The Philippines, the host of this year’s South-east Asian (SEA) Games, came under fire on Sunday (Nov 24) over the shabby welcome given to arriving athletes from four countries.

Delegates from Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Timor-Leste had complained that they waited hours at the airport or were driven to the wrong hotel.

Athletes have begun flying into Manila ahead of the November 30 opening of the Games, but for Cambodia and East Timor’s football squads, the arrival was not what they were expecting.

“We had to wait maybe like eight, nine hours to get to our hotel,” coach Felix Dalmas of Cambodia said in a news conference on Sunday. He added that they also had to wait for hours for the shuttle service.

East Timor’s team was driven to the wrong hotel, complicating their arrival and training schedules.

“All nations deserve respect and what happened yesterday (Saturday) was not so beautiful,” East Timor’s coach Fabiano Flora told reporters.

Philippine South-east Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) Chairman Alan Peter Cayetano apologised for the chaos and appealed for understanding.

Mr Cayetano noted that the Phisgoc officials had talked with the delegates from Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Cambodia and Thailand.

“For those foreign teams, we are apologising for the inconveniences or if I may call inefficiencies or miscoordinations,” he said.

Malacañang Palace — the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the Philippines — also issued an apology to the concerned athletes.

“The Office of the President will not offer any excuses. As host country, we apologise for the unintentional inconvenience suffered by our athlete-guests,” Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement on Sunday.

“What is more important and more pressing is Phisgoc has committed to do better in ensuring proper coordination from the arrival of the athletes to their transportation and hotel accommodations,” he added.

“We are not promising that the Games will run without a hitch, given the countless athletes who will participate and represent their respective countries, but we will exercise due diligence in making sure everyone will have a pleasant, productive and memorable stay in the Philippines,” Mr Panelo said.

Mr Cayetano said Phisgoc officials are doing their best to address problems that may arise.

“We always hope that things will run smoothly. But we are human, expect there to be mini-crises,” he said.

“Let’s help each other. Let’s not resort to bashing because the Philippines will suffer. I’m appealing for understanding,” Mr Cayetano added.

Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer Ramon Suzara denied that there are information technology (IT)-related problems that might compromise the games.

“I don’t hear [of] any IT issues. Polo was okay. If there’s any issue, I will check it with the IT department and the sports department. I didn’t receive any news or reports,” he said. THE MANILA TIMES  

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