Member nations of the Southeast Asian Games Federation have unanimously decided to postpone the 31st SEA Games that Vietnam is hosting in November.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Bambol Tolentino announced this Thursday shortly after his virtual meeting with fellow SEAG counterparts.
Tolentino said member nations made the consensus for the health and safety of the athletes.
“Di rin makapag-decide ang Vietnam, so tinulungan na lang namin. I think it’s the best decision for everyone dahil lahat naman apektado. Tulong na rin namin sa Vietnam,” Tolentino said, adding that the spike of COVID-19 cases in the region became the top reason for the postponement.
Tolentino said Vietnam was given 10 more days to decide when will be the next schedule of the SEAG, taking in consideration the schedule of various international tournaments particularly the 32nd edition that Cambodia is hosting in 2023.
“May procedure pa kasi yan kaya di lang basta-basta made-decide,” Tolentino said.
Philippine Sports Commissioner Mon Fernandez, who is the PH Team’s chief of mission to the 31st SEAG, said they will have to discuss the next steps with the POC.
“Its’ public and health safety that took priority so we have to go back to the drawing board,” Fernandez said.
“Right now, we’ll play by ear by this point. We have to know which dates ang ibigay ng Vietnam.”
The SEAG was supposed to take place on Nov. 21 to Dec. 2.