MANILA – The 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games has been called off for this year.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino confirmed on Thursday that the biennial sports meet supposed to take place just before Christmas in Hanoi, Vietnam will not push through as scheduled due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) concerns.
"The SEA Games Federation unanimously decided not to hold the SEA Games this year due to Covid-19," Tolentino said during an online press conference.
Talks of SEA Games postponement loomed largely over the midyear as Covid-19 cases in Vietnam spiked to record levels.
Tolentino, however, said the host country's situation is not the only reason behind the postponement but also those from other Southeast Asian nations.
"Medyo tumaas po talaga--nag-spike--sa Thailand, Indonesia, even the Philippines, and Vietnam (The cases are rising in Thailand, Indonesia, even the Philippines, and Vietnam)," he said.
He also clarified that the new dates of the SEA Games in Hanoi are still to be announced amid rumors that it might be moved to as late as July next year.
"Yan ang pag-uusapan pa ng NOC (national Olympic committee) ng Vietnam and their government (The NOC of Vietnam and their government will still talk about it)," Tolentino said. (PNA)
