The Philippine South East Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) has presented today November 11, the book containing the final South East Asian (SEA) Games Report to PHISGOC Chairman Alan Peter Cayetano, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Philippine Sports Commission Chair William “Butch” Ramirez in a simple turnover ceremony in Taguig City.
PHISGOC Chief Operating Officer (COO) Ramon Suzara described the book as PHISGOC’s “badge of honor” and compared it with a medal, which not even time could ever tarnish nor damage.
“The book details each victory, both big and small; that we have had throughout our colourful and meaningful SEA games journey,” Suzara said in a statement.
*Taguig-Pateros First District Rep. and PHISGOC Chair Alan Peter Cayetano for his part said that the SEA games experience has united the Filipino people and sports can bring out the best in the future generation*.
*“Beyond the 30th SEA games, it can serve as a shining inspiration for Filipino youth and sports can be a source of good values for our children not just for our athletes,” Cayetano said*.
*To sustain the golden age of sports development in the Philippines which the 30th SEA games have started, the
PHISGOC Chair also challenged the lawmakers to put their energies in providing additional budget for sports sector development and athletes’ training in preparation for the next SEA games and other international competitions*.
This book according to Suzara shall be submitted and delivered to the SEA Games Federation.
“It served as a historic document representing the hard work that we have all put together as one strong PHISGOC family,” he noted.
“This affirms the contribution of every man and every woman who has tirelessly endeavored toward the success of the Games: the athletes, the officials, the sponsors, the media, even the spectators,” Suzara added.
Fourteen years after hosting the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2005, the Philippines once again became the venue for the biennial multi-sport event in 2019. The long wait can be considered a blessing in disguise because it allowed our athletes as well as the government to prepare for the big comeback as a regional sports powerhouse.
“True to its commitment, the PHISGOC mounted as the best-hosted and biggest SEA Games in the history of the event with 56 sports, 531 events, 53 competition venues, and 8 non-competition venues,” Suzara noted.
It allowed the Philippines to regain the overall SEA Games championship after 14 years, earning 149 gold medals, 117 silver, and 121 bronze, totaling to 387.
“More than emerging victorious in the various competitions that tested skills, stamina and mental toughness, we have proven the phrase ‘We Win as One’ as a meaningful collaborative effort not only by the athletes, but also by all the South East Asian nations,” Tolentino said in the book.
Through its hosting, world-class and state-of-the-art facilities such as the Athletics Stadium and the Aquatic Center in the New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, Tarlac were constructed and can now be utilized by aspiring Filipino athletes from the National Academy of Sports (NAS) Old facilities were refurbished, such as the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and the Philippine Sports Arena (ULTRA).
President Duterte, in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, 2020, cited the successful staging of the 30th SEA Games in December 2019 and the establishment of the NAS in June 2020 as among the achievements of his administration.
“As a lasting legacy that we can leave behind to succeeding generations of Filipinos, the New Clark City Athletics Stadium & Aquatics Center, the flagship venue of the 30th SEA Games, including the Athletes Village, shall house the National Academy for Sports — a world-class venue where we will train our national athletes and host future international multi-sport events,” President Rodrigo Duterte wrote in his message to the SEA Games family.
The NAS was created through Republic Act 11470 signed by Duterte on June 9, 2020, just six months after the holding of the SEA Games in December last year.
The law seeks to develop the athletic skills and talents of students in world-class sport facilities that are at par with international standards. It also mandates the implementation of quality and enhanced secondary education program that is integrated with a special curriculum on sports.
The Philippine hosting of the SEA Games also did not only help in the rediscovery of the power of collaboration and collective strength as a nation and the rekindling of national pride, it also raised the standards of the SEA Games hosting.
The Five Currents group, known to have produced world-class ceremonies such as the Olympic Games in London and Rio de Janeiro, were engaged by the SEA Games organizers to help in the production of the 30th edition’s spectacular opening ceremony and sparkling closing ceremony. This is a first in SEA Games history.
“There are no words to describe how we, all together, witnessed the greatest days of South East Asian sports during the 30th SEA Games,” Ramirez said.
