Some member countries that participate in the Southeast Asian Games are contesting the inclusion of dozens of events when first-time host Cambodia lays down a 49-sport program with a record number of 632 events in the biennial meet slated next year.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Bambol Tolentino said many events are under sports that don’t have international federations or most of the SEA Games countries are not familiar with.
Cambodia organizers announced during the SEA Games Federation meeting in Bangkok, Thailand last week that there will be an additional 30 events in vovinam, 24 events in martial arts Korea and 13 events in dragonboat.
Vovinam wasn’t on the Philippine program in 2019 but played in Vietnam in 2022 with 15 events. Palembang also hosted 14 events in vovinam in 2011.
Martial arts Korea is distinct from taekwondo, which will be played with 24 events. Martial arts Korea, in memory, was never played in the SEA Games.
Tolentino said that Cambodia’s traditional martial arts, Kun Bokator, will be allowed as a gesture of respect for the host country.
“We respected the Kun Bokator because that’s their traditional sport, but we cannot allow the others,” Tolentino said. “They also have a different international federation in Muay Thai and the martial arts Korea.”
The SEAG Federation will meet virtually next week to decide on the sporting events program.
The Philippines hosted the most number of sports at 56 but with 530 events in 2019, while Vietnam held a 40-sport with 526 events last May. Brunei owns the record-low program with 22 sports and 233 events in 1999.