Manila, Philippines, December 18, 2019: Philippine Sports Commission Chairman and SEA Games Chef de Mission William “Butch” Ramirez believes that the urgency behind the preparations for the 30th Southeast Asian Games was the key to success, reports the Inquirer. The Philippines hosted the 30th edition of the biennial SEA Games from November 30 to December 11 and the home athletes clinched the overall championship with 149 gold medals in a total of 386 medals. This followed the debacle of the previous SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2017 when the Philippines slumped to sixth place in the 11-team medal rankings with only 24 gold medals. Ramirez said the Philippine Sports Commission immediately provided national athletes with all necessities, from nutritious food, health supplements, accommodation, top-rate coaching and training and foreign exposure with the ultimate goal of shining at home in 2019. For his part, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham Tolentino said they prepared well and followed a master plan that allowed the Philippines to blast off with a solid start and build on this lead all the way through the games to the closing ceremony. There was no looking back after that for the highly motivated and sharply prepared national contingent. Now, Tolentino has been saying there should be no resting on the laurels; and he’s calling for an all-out charge in next year’s Tokyo Olympics when world gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo is a genuine gold medal prospect in the men’s floor exercise. Whether the Philippines can win gold for the first time in Olympic Games history or be forced to settle for silver or bronze again, the success of the Philippine delegation at the SEA Games has created a new generation of sports enthusiasts around the country. There will be plenty of natural talent, too, and this must be identified and nurtured if the Philippines intends to stay on top in Southeast Asia, starting at the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi in 2021. Source: www.sports.inquirer.net
Philippines looks to build on SEA Games success
