PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee President Rep Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino is more anxious than ever about the country defending its Southeast Asian Games overall title after attending the national chiefs of mission meeting of the Vietnam SEA Games in Hanoi over the weekend.
“I learned that Malaysia will be sending 700 athletes to the SEA Games, mas marami kaysa sa athletes natin. And we don’t know how many athletes Indonesia and Thailand are sending,” Tolentino said yesterday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum.
During the actual meeting of the 11 delegation heads, Tolentino formally submitted the names of the 979 athletes and officials comprising the Philippine contingent, including the name of pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, who is at odds with the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association.
“Obiena’s name was included in the list so he is part of the national team,” he said.
But he acknowledged that the Filipino bets would be hard pressed in defending the overall championship attained with an outstanding haul of 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals in the Philippine edition of the event three years ago.
“From the original 1,000 athletes, our number was reduced to 600. Then the events where we won our gold medals are gone while dinagdagan ng Vietnam ‘yung kanila. It will really be difficult but I pray that our campaigners will have the heart to do their best,” Tolentino said.
Despite the dramatic rise of COVID cases in Vietnam, he said the Vietnamese hosts have no intention of pulling the plug on the delayed sportsfest set on May 12 to 23 in Hanoi and neighboring areas.
“Vietnam is definitely pushing through with the Games. The Vietnamese are committed,” Tolentino said.
He said that Vietnam will limit to 31 entries per country those who will take part in the opening day parade on March 12 at the 40,000-seat My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi and was not sure if fans would be allowed to witness the games in various arenas.
Tolentino said Vietnamese organizers allowed them to inspect the various venues in and around Hanoi to show how well-prepared they were in hosting the Games.
