December 6, 2005

The third Asean Para Games, the SEA games for disabled athletes open in Manila, Philippines December 14 with a ceremony in Rizal Memorial Stadium. About 1,000 athletes are expected to participate in the games which run until December 21.

Sports in the games will be athletics, badminton, chess, goalball, judo, powerlifting, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair tennis. Demonstration sports include boccia, fencing, sailing, and tenpin bowling are demonstration sports.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has signed Executive Order 275 calling for full support from the government and citizens for the games.

Philippines top SEA Games medals table for first time.

December 5, 2005

The Philippines achieved its goal of resting atop the medals table of the 2005 SEA Games, but not without controversy.

Singapore's Joscelin Yao, a regional swimming star for the past twelve years in SEA, Asian, Commonwealth and Olympic competition, won six golds to bring her total for the SEA Games to 40 gold medals since 1993.

Midway through the games, Thailand's prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra surprised many when he was quoted by Thai news sources claiming that the judging of the games was not fair and was biased towards the hosts.

The remarks sparked investigations by the SEA Games Federation which quickly concluded that the judging had been consistent and fair. The Thai National Olympic Committee then denied that the prime minister ever made the remarks.

However, two Thai officials, one diving judge, and another water polo referee, were sanctioned by the International Aquatics Federation (FINA) for poor judging in their events.

In boxing, the Philippines protested the judging when four gold medal bouts against fighters from Thailand all went the visitors way.

In addition, to marathoners from Vietnam were disqualified when it was determined that the male runner was illegally pacing the female runner, who originally finished in the silver medal position.

The Secretary of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, Sieh Kok Chi pointed out that the issue of accusations of biased judging has been associated with these games for some time. "When we [Malaysians] hosted the Games, we were also accused of biased judging and it was the same when Vietnam were the host."

Philippines finished 3rd and 2nd on the medals table in 1981 and 1991 respectively, the only other two occasions when the Philippines hosted the South East Asian Games.

Thailand has promised that the judging will be completely fair when it hosts the games in 2007.

East Timor won it's first ever medals of the SEA Games, taking three bronze in the Philippine stick fighting sport of arnis.

Medals Table 2005 SEA Games

4th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games set to open in Malaysia

September 22, 2004

Malaysia will welcome athletes from Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines for the fourth edition of the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines - East ASEAN Growth Area) Friendship Games from September 24-26. The theme for this year's games will be "Promoting a Culture of Peace, Friendship, Unity and Economy through Sports."

Athletics, sepak takraw, swimming, badminton and football have been decided as the sports for this year's event.

The competing delegations will be provincial. From the Philippines: Mindanao and Palawan. From Indonesia: Central Kalimatan, East Kalimatan, West Kalimatan, Gorontalo, Irian Jaya, Maluku, North Maluku, Central Saluwesi, North Saluwesi, and Southeast Saluwesi. From Malaysia: Labuan, Sarawak and Sabah.

Brunei Darussalam will compete as one team.

About 400 young athletes are expected for the games.

Bangkok to host 2006 International Children's Games

September 22, 2004

News announced last month in Cleveland, but not widely circulated, is that Bangkok, Thailand has been selected as host for the 2006 International Children's Games.

The announcement continues a string of bidding successes for Bangkok, which is also scheduled to host the 2007 South East Asian Games and the 2007 World University Games.

Also in Cleveland, a group from Cebu City in the Philippines and the Cebu City Sports Commission mentioned interest in bidding for a future International Children's Games.

September 9, 2004

Unfavorable economic conditions are putting pressure on the Philippine organizers of the 2005 South East Asian Games, who are now being forced to make adjustments to the games. News sources this week indicate that budget constraints will shorten the games schedule from ten days of competition to eight.

Rumors of cancellation or postponement have circulated the past few weeks, but organizers insist the games are not going to be cancelled, but will be scaled back. The budget for the opening ceremony will also be cut in half. Organizers are hoping that private sector support will make up for what the government budgets, Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission lack. Currently 34 sports are on the schedule but some could be dropped. The Sports commission recently had to drop funding for food and housing for many of its athletes due to lack of funds.

Philippine Sports Commission chair Eric Buhain suggested in the Philippine Daily Enquirer "we should try to take out the events where we are weak and maintain only those where we can win gold." he said yesterday. Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit responded, "We should not present it in such a way that it would appear we're merely trying to improve our chances." "We should have a rational basis for cutting out an event. And I think the current economic situation is a very serious reason to do so."

The topic will be discussed further at the SEA Games Federation meetings October 11-12.

August 15, 2004

Last year, the organizers of the 2005 SEA Games and the Philippine Olympic Committee chose the tarsier, a nocturnal midget monkey considered the world's smallest primate, and an endangered species, as mascot for the games.

Now the Philippine organizing committee wants to change the mascot to the Philippine eagle. The eagle preys on small animals, including monkeys.

Philippine Sports Commission chair Eric Buhain said the Philippine eagle is a better representative for the beauty, grace and strength of the people and nation of the Philippines. 

August 7, 2004

The Philippine government scrambled last week and called and emergency meeting in hopes of finding a solution to the Olympic television impasse in the country.

Government officials, television executives and sports representatives met to discuss the matter and the IOC graciously extended its deadline to August 8. 

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has said that the government would pay the 1.2 million US in past bills owed to the IOC, so that this years games could be shown on television. 

Philippine officials had been exploring several options, including asking ESPN to broadcast events in which Philippine athletes were participating, to the cable subscribers in the country.

No Olympic TV for Indonesia? 

August 1, 2004

The Jakarta Post is reporting that Indonesian sports fans will not be able to watch the Olympic Games on television in Indonesia this year. 

John Barton, the Head of Broadcasting Operations for the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, told the Jakarta Post, "We have done everything to secure television coverage for the people of Indonesia. However, Indonesian television and radio broadcasters have decided against broadcasting the Athens Olympic Games." 

"It is a sad day for international sport, and for the many people in Indonesia who would like to support their athletes and team in Athens, and in particular the nation's champion badminton players who still have a strong chance for medals," he said.

Barton also stated, "Indonesia will be the only country out of 220 which will be represented in Athens not to have a telecast," a report that contradicts information that came out of the Philippines last week.

The Jakarta Post stated that various Indonesian TV stations recently paid for events such as badminton's Thomas Cup and Uber Cup, and football's Euro 2004 and Copa America events, but none had paid for the rights to televise the Olympic Games.

July 29, 2004

The Manila Bulletin is reporting that Philippine Olympic fans will not be able to see the Olympic Games in the Philippines on television this year, because local rights holder, NBN has not paid it bills to the IOC.

NBN owes $1.2 million dollars to the IOC for the rights for the Sydney Games in 2000. The chairman of the NBN, Mia Concio told the Manila Bulletin "we just cannot afford it."

Concio also told the paper that when she took over, NBN had debts of 272 million pesos, and that the IOC debt was only 72 million of that amount.

Research has revealed that in the meantime, the government owned TV station, in a bid in 2003 to re-acquire the rights for the Philippine Basketball Association games, paid a collective 675 million Philippine pesos (about $11.6 million US at current rates of exchange) for three seasons of basketball. 

Concio told the Manila Bulletin in April of 2003  “I personally spearheaded the move,” she said in a press briefing.  “And we’re proud to have offered a sizable three-year package." 

Regarding the Olympic debt, Concio told Eddie Alinea of the Bulletin last week,  "The IOC wanted us to pay $300,000 out of the total obligations. Besides this amount, we are also being assessed $600,000 rights fee plus another $175,000 technical fee for an additional $775,000. All in all, we have to raise an additional $2 million, counting the P120 million airtime cost. Where can we get that money?" she asked. Concio told the paper that it was the Philippine governments responsibility to step in and help with the debt.

The Olympic Games have been shown on television in the Philippines since 1964, but a similar situation occurred in 1992, when bills had not been paid for broadcasts in 1988. That was eventually resolved when ABS-CBN, a private TV station, stepped in.

For the Athens games, the IOC gave the station until June 30, 2004 to pay its debts, or not have the rights to the 2004 games.  

NBN and Concio chose to spend ten times more money for local basketball (a ten team league, with each team playing 18 games) than pay off their debts to the IOC and show the Olympic Games. Concio told the paper " as I have been saying, we have to prioritize things up."  

Concio also claimed that part of the budget problem was that as a government run station, NBN was not allowed to run commercials, and that she had asked congress to amend the law so that the station could run commercials.

To this the Manila Bulletin replied, "It could not be determined what Concio meant, ' not being allowed to air commercials' when in fact, the station carries commercials." 

Cameroon, Iraq, Mongolia, Nigeria and the Philippines may miss Children's Games

July 25, 2004

The city of Cleveland has signed up some 143 cities from 60 nations according to the games web site, for the first International Children's Games held in the United States, but problems obtaining visas may keep five of those nations, and about fifty athletes, from participating, the Cleveland Plain Dealer has reported.

The visas reportedly have not been denied. The delegations involved were said to have simply not allowed enough time to obtain the documents.

Games organizers took the issue all the way to the White House, with no success

More International Children's Games

July 15, 2004

Malaysia's Daily Express newspaper confirms that the 2004 BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia- Philippines - East ASEAN Growth Area) Games will be held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia in September of this year.

Contingents from Sarawak and Labuan in Brunei, Kalimantan province in Indonesia, Palawan and Mindanao in the Philippines and Sabah, Malaysia will take part in the games.  

About 500 athletes will compete in athletics, sepak takraw, football, badminton and swimming.  

Dates for the games have now been adjusted to September 24-26.

The games are a friendship gathering for athletes under the age of 23.

April 19, 2004

As part of the preparations for the 2005 South East Asian (SEA) Games, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is planning a reunion of the sports heroes from the 1991 edition of the games, the last held in the Philippines.

The event is planned to be a week long festival in September of this year, with concerts, competitions, exhibits, pep rallies to publicize and create interest in the 2005 SEA Games which are scheduled for November 2005.

Some athletes from 1999 who were mentioned as possibilities for the reunion include: Lydia de Vega Mercado and Elma Muros Posadas (athletics), Paeng Nepomuceno and Bong Coo (bowling), Akiko Thomson and Eric Buhain (swimming), Mansueto Velasco Jr. (boxing), John Baylon (judo), Tac Padilla (shooting), Felix Barrientos (lawn tennis) and Bea Lucero (taekwondo).

March 11, 2004

The ASEAN Para games will expand in 2005, adding five more sports to the five held in last years games. The new sports will be bowling, chess, goalball, judo and tennis in addition to athletics, badminton, swimming, table tennis and wrestling that were included in the 2003 games.

The games are scheduled to be held in December 2005 in the Philippines.

March 1, 2004

Over forty delegates from the eleven SEA Games nations will meet in the Philippines this week for federation meetings. At the top of the agenda will be the discussion of which sports to include in the 2005 games, to be held in the Philippines.

Several SEA countries have expressed their frustration over the past several months that fringe and rarely practiced sports (or sports practiced primarily in the host nation) are being included by SEA Games hosts, simply to help the host nation win more medals.

Proposed sports by the Philippines organizers currently include athletics, aquatics, arnis, archery, wrestling, wushu, boxing, basketball, rowing, traditional boat race, triathlon, gymnastics, judo, fencing, taekwondo, golf, chess, bowling, baseball, softball, equestrian, dance-port and billiards.

Other SEA countries have proposed the inclusion of football, shooting, sepak takraw, badminton, volleyball, pencak silat, table tennis and canoe/kayak, with cycling, karatedo, sailing and petanque are still under consideration.

The issues surrounding the sports may not be resolved until the next SEA Federation meetings in October.

SEA Games medals table revised again

February 17, 2004

The Philippines picked up another gold medal today from the 2003 South East Asian Games, when Vietnamese organizers revised results from the men's 4X200 meter swimming relay. The Philippine delegation had filed an appeal, which was finally decided this past week.

The initial results listed the Philippine team as having been disqualified. However, the head of the swimming events announced that there had been a "mistake made by Omega", the timing system, and the Philippines have now been awarded first place in the race.

The change moves Malaysia to the silver medal position, Singapore will now get the bronze, and Thailand will be left without medals in the event, having been bumped to fourth position.

This is the second shifting of medals from the games. Drug infractions caused several medals to change hands last month.

January 26, 2004

Vietnam took some heat during the build up of the 2003 South East Asian games for including as medal sports obscure events like shuttlecock kicking.

It looks like the efforts to include minor, regional, traditional or otherwise not widely practiced sports will continue up to 2005.

A group in the Philippines, the Philippine Indigenous and Sports Savers Association, Inc. (PIGSAI), has proposed "arnis" a local form of martial arts, be included in the 2005 SEA Games, as well as kuntaw, dumog, jendo and dulac.

Critics of adding the minor sports are arguing that the SEA games will become a joke if host nations continue to add such regionalized sports that only their nation can win medals. Another argument is that the inclusion of these sports does not prepare athletes for the Asian Games and the Olympic Games.

BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games to resume annually?

November 5, 2003

The Philippines have offered to host next years BIMP-EAGA Games (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia- Philippines - East ASEAN Growth Area) in Zamboanga City.

The games were begun in 1996 in Manila and intended to be held on an annual basis. The games were held in 1997 in Brunei, but then not held again until this past summers games in the Philippines.

Filipino officials are hoping that the games will bring attention and increased economic activity to Zamboanga City.

BIMP-EAGA games to be revived

July 10, 2003

The BIMP-EAGA games, last held in 1997, are being brought back to life and are scheduled to be held next month, August 25-27.

The Puerto Princesa-Palawan Sports Complex in Puerto Princesa City, The Philippines, will serve as the main venue.

The games are for Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines with EAGA standing for the East Asian Growth Area.

The state Director of Sports, Asok Kumar responded that the fields are part of a complete sports complex, being built with the idea of future events in mind.

Philippines Cleared for Special Olympics

May 21, 2003

The World Health Organization has removed the Philippines from the list of areas affected by the SARS virus. With the decision, the government of Ireland and Department of Health in Dublin has said that it will accept the Philippine delegation into Ireland to compete in the Special Olympics World Games.

Several days ago Ireland's Health Minister Micheal Martin requested that China, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines stay away from the games. The World Health Organization had criticized the request stating that it was not consistent with WHO policy regarding the virus.

2005 SEA Games planning falling behind

The Philippines, a Manila paper has stated, is "not well prepared, logistically or otherwise, to host the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in 2005."  

The country is running a huge, 3.7 billion dollar (U.S) deficit and is not certain it can budget the 37 million necessary for the games.

The games organizing committee is said to be moving slowly, and is yet to have a plan in place for the games. 

Philippines offers money for medals, well a little bit.

March 2003

The Philippines will award money to their Arafura Games gold medallists this year. 12,000 pesos for a gold medal that or $220 U.S. dollars.

The Philippines offered 7 million pesos, or $160,000 U.S. dollars for an Olympic gold medal in 2000, but no Philippine athlete won a gold.