The delegation from the Philippines parades throughout the opening ceremony of the thirty second Southeast Asian Video games (SEA Video games) on the Morodok Techo Nationwide Stadium in Phnom Penh on Might 5, 2023. –CAMBODIA 2023 PHOTO
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA—“Kun Khmer,” what?
The abundance of indigenous sports activities within the calendar of the thirty second Southeast Asian Video games right here could have sowed confusion amongst informal sports activities followers as to what sort of competitors they resemble. But it surely additionally allowed the host nation to reap golden advantages.
That’s not taking place from the 2025 version in Thailand onwards.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol’’ Tolentino stated the SEA Video games Federation not too long ago accredited a measure that might restrict indigenous sports activities to simply 4 beginning in Thailand whereas guaranteeing most publicity for Olympic occasions.
“This was one of many many proposals I’ve introduced up and was accredited. We set a minimal of 10 Olympic sports activities and 10 sports activities being performed in Asia whereas solely 4 regional video games could be calendared,’’ stated Tolentino.
Nations usually money in on these homegrown sports activities confined in Southeast Asia so far as jacking up the medal tally is anxious, notably the host nation.
“The accredited measure will standardize sports activities and occasions that can see motion within the SEA Video games, however the particular sports activities to be performed will nonetheless rely on the discretion of the host nation,’’ stated Tolentino.
“It’s already a carried out deal within the (SEA Video games Federation) structure. We simply let the Cambodia internet hosting end and we’ll implement it within the subsequent SEA Video games, which Thailand will stage,’’ added the Tagaytay Metropolis mayor.
Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
General, the POC, which oversees the efficiency of nationwide athletes throughout all sports activities, is happy with the output of Staff Philippines within the ongoing biennial meet right here, which is scheduled to shut on Wednesday.
“It’s a really robust efficiency regardless of the restrictions of the host nation, our silver-medal finishes in a number of subjective sports activities and the scale of our delegation,’’ stated Tolentino.
Aside from impediment racing, the place Filipinos captured all 4 gold medals, Cambodia restricted the participation of different nations in all occasions, offering the host nation the leverage to win extra medals and forestall a sweep of the mints by their rivals.
A complete of 840 Filipino athletes noticed motion in 38 of the 39 sports activities, operating fifth general with 58 gold, 87 silver and 115 bronze medals. The nation eclipsed its golden haul of 52 final yr in Hanoi, Vietnam, with one competitors day remaining.
“We’ve got a number of silver medals that got here from subjective sports activities. Think about if the judges in these sports activities favored us within the gold-medal matches and there have been no limitations on the variety of occasions, then we might have completed both second or third,’’ stated Tolentino.
No main shakeup is anticipated on the last medal board with Vietnam the runaway general champion with 136 golds, 104 silvers and 114 bronzes.
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