A “chef de mission” meeting is set in early January as preparations shift to high gear with under only five months before the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) opening ceremony in Hanoi on May 12 next year, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Sunday.
The meeting will be held face-to-face — the first to be organized by host Vietnam for the postponed SEA Games that will end May 23, he noted.
“Although the SEA Games are just months away, we believe the hosts are doing everything for a successful hosting,” Tolentino said. “They’re prepared, because if not for the pandemic, the Games should have been done and over with this time.”
The multi-sport event, which Vietnam is hosting for the second time, was originally scheduled for Nov. 21 to Dec. 2, 2021.
Tolentino said the Philippines’ chef de mission to the Games, Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, and his deputies — lawyer Alberto Agra of obstacle sports and Muaythai Association of the Philippines (MAP) secretary general Pearl Managuelod — are expected to fly to Hanoi for the confab.
The organizers of the meeting are expected to determine the dates and agenda within the week.
The second Chef de Mission and Technical Delegates Meeting for the SEA Games is set on March 13.
The Philippines intends to send a 626-athlete delegation to the SEA Games to compete in 29 of the 30 sports events.
Meanwhile, the POC is likewise tasked to submit the number of Filipino delegates to the Huangzhou 19th Asian Games on or before Dec. 31.
Source: Philippines News Agency
