Unless additional funds come pouring in, Filipino athletes will have to make do with what’s available as they prepare for the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi in May.
“We have to face the reality because of this pandemic,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino during Tuesday’s online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
In fact, Tolentino said there’s little hope the 584 athletes in the POC list can embark on overseas training barely four months before the Philippines tries to defend the overall SEA Games crown.
“I doubt kung meron pang overseas training,” he said during the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, Unilever, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, with Prime Edge as social media and webcast partner.
Everything seemed to be going back to normal a couple of months ago until the COVID Omicron variant barged into the picture and left the SEA Games preparations back to square one.
“Nakakahinga na sana ng konti eh,” said Tolentino, hoping the POC has enough time to draw support from Congress and the private sector to boost the budget for the SEA Games.
As it is, the Philippine Sports Commission has P121 million funds allocated for the SEA Games. Originally, the budget stood at P200 million, but so much money was already spent for training before the pandemic kicked.
The Hanoi SEA Games was originally scheduled last year but was pushed to May this year.
“We’re working amid all the budgetary constraints,” added Tolentino, who ended up asking himself if the Philippines can keep the overall title despite the strong challenge from host Vietnam.
“Can we defend the overall championship? A lot of things have happened. Mahirap sagutin ‘yan. Second, the budgetary constraints will have a huge effect on our campaign,” he said.
“Kaya pa rin i-defend pero uphill batte,” said Tolentino, adding the host country has scrapped more than 40 events where the Philippines won gold medals in 2019, and added more than 30 events where the hosts are favored to win this year.
The cycling chief said it could be a battle for second overall among the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia.
“‘Yan ang maglalaban sa two, three, four. I think Malaysia and Singapore kaya natin,” said Tolentino, who added that finishing fifth in the medal standings is a far-fetched idea.
“Malabo na siguro ‘yan (fifth place) with what happened in 2019,” added the POC prexy, recalling the year when the Philippines hosted the Games and won the overall title for the second time.
