Philippines Will Host 2019 Games After All - Media Reports

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- The Philippines will host the next SEA Games in 2019 as scheduled after its government reconsidered its earlier decision to not host the Games due to internal crisis in its southern Mindanao region, according to several Philippines media reports. The decision to go ahead with the 30th edition of the biennial games will be reaffirmed at the SEA Games Federation (SEAGF) meeting here Friday, which falls on the eve of the opening of the 29th SEA Games. Filipino media cited the country’s Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Philippines Olympic Committee as confirming the Philippines will honour its commitment to organise the Games again after hosting it in 2005, following consultations with the government. In the 2005 edition, the Philippines emerged as the overall champion for the first time with 113 gold medals. Olympic Council of Malaysia secretary-general Low Beng Choo said SEAGF would hear from POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr at its meeting. “He has asked us to keep the window open for them. So far, POC has not given us any official notice that they are pulling out as host of the Games. We will help them where we can. Thailand is on standby to host the Games,” she told reporters after chairing the SEAGF Rules and Sports Committee meeting. Meanwhile, Beng Choo said during the meeting, Vietnam had requested for the reinstatement of the women’s 3,000m steeplechase and were told that the event was dropped because lack of support from other participating countries. -- BERNAMA