As the SEA Games get closer, PH athletes will be able to go

Philippine athletes and officials during the opening ceremony of the SEA Games (Southeast Asian Games) on November 30, 2019 at the Philippine Arena in Bokao, Bulacan Province, north of Manila. (Photo by Ted Algibi / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines ছাড়া Without details of their flight, Filipino athletes are well on their way to the 31st Southeast Asian Games in the last few weeks.

Ramon Fernandez, commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission, announced on Tuesday that almost all bases have been covered for Team Philippines’ preparations for the Hanoi, Vietnam meet.

“Everything except bookings (flights) has been taken care of,” said Fernandez, the country’s nominated chef de Mission at the Games during the online Philippine Sportswriters Association forum.

Despite the ongoing epidemic, Fernandez said most of the 646 athletes in the 39 games have been training for the past several months, which began in a bubble environment before everything slowly relaxed to provide their full potential for the May 12-23 sports fest.

The first batch of 987-strong Philippine delegations, including 296 team officials and 45 representatives of the National Olympic Committee, will depart for Hanoi on May 1 on scheduled flights by PSC Philippine Airlines and Singapore Airlines.

As CDM, Fernandez will lead the initial wave of departures to attend several meetings scheduled by the organizing committee before the opening ceremony with his deputy CDM Carl Sambrano Skateboarding and Muay Pearl Managueld. He added that the biggest wave of athletes and officials will fly on May 10.

“Our athletes have been well-prepared despite the restrictions in the past. I rely on the podium finishers for (the) 2019 (SEA Games), “said Fernandez.

Team Philippines won the overall title with a strength of 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze, but a large portion of these medal winners will not be in Vietnam, setting up a unique set of health and safety protocols, including for athletes. ‘Non-presentation of vaccine certificate.

“I’m crossing my fingers that those who play in Hanoi will hold their gold medals and those silver and bronze performers will improve their output,” Fernandez said.

Ramon S. Fernandez, the energy behind the Sports and Youth Development Foundation and the Atletang Pilipino, added: “We are not the only ones affected by the epidemic.

Fernandez Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bumblebee” will hold a conference with Talentino on Tim Philippine’s departure schedule.

Athletes from football, kickboxing, diving, chess, handball, pancake silat, rowing and Quraysh are expected to settle in Hanoi before the opening ceremony on May 12 with a football draw scheduled for Tuesday.

“Our athletes have really worked hard to reach this level. Always remember that the whole country is supporting you and rejoicing. Don’t stress, just do your best and believe in yourself, “said Fernandez.