NOTWITHSTANDING the uncertainties presented by the pandemic, officials of Team Philippines for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games later this year are still hard at work, making sure they get to cover all the bases for any eventuality.
Following their working group meeting on Friday, Philippine SEA Games chef de mission and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Ramon Fernandez shared that they are continuously coordinating with all stakeholders to make sure the country comes up with the best representation possible for the biennial sporting meet happening in Vietnam in November.
“Despite many uncertainties, the national team can be certain that we are working very hard to make sure they are prepared to defend our title,” said Mr. Fernandez in a statement.
The Philippines was the overall SEA Games champion in 2019 where the event was held here.
Mr. Fernandez shared that planning amid these trying times is not easy considering how fluid the situation is with the pandemic.
Among the top concerns they are dealing with is the training of the national teams, with health and safety issues rendering venues limited.
The chef de mission said the PSC board is now open to partnering with local government units which would be willing to “adopt” teams to train in their areas.
The idea, he said, was based on the successful “bubble” training of the fencing and archery teams in Ormoc and Dumaguete, respectively.
He went on to say that they acknowledge that doing such would not be easy as training preparations still need the approval from the Inter-Agency Task Force on Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, but something the PSC is willing to go through to ensure the health and safety of every participant.
Present in last Friday’s working group meeting were deputies chef de mission Pearl Managuelod and Atty. Al Agra, Philippine Olympic Committee Secretary-General Karen Caballero, PSC doctor Janis Ann de Vera, PSC Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy, Jr., and National Training Director Marc Velasco. — MASM
