Venues 'OK' sa Singapore at Malaysia

Walang mga makabagong pasilidad at problema sa trapiko ang nakita ng mga opisyal mula sa Malaysia at Singapore matapos suyurin ang mga venues na gagamitin sa 23rd Southeast Asian Games sa November 27 hanggang December 5 ngunit tiwala silang magiging mata-gumpay angpagho-host ng bansa kung magkakaroon ng kooperasyon ang lahat.

"We should go back to the basics. And that is to foster the spirit, cooperation ang virtue of the games," wika ni Low Beng Choo, Vice-president ng Olympic Council of Malaysia. "We know that sports unify people not just one country but also people."

Nagtapos kahapon ang isang linggong inspection ng delegasyon mula sa Malaysia at Singapore ang mga venues Sa Laguna, Subic, Bacolod at Cebu at masaya nilang ibinalita sa media sa isang pagtitipon sa Starbucks sa 6750 sa Makati na kuntento sila sa kanilang mga nakita.

"We dont need state-of-the-art facilities. We are not hosting the Olympics. If the venues are good enough for the national championships, it‚s good enough for the SEA Games," sabi pa ni Low na presidente rin ng Softball Association of Malaysia at secretary-general ng Softball Confederation Asia.

Dahil sa kasalukuyang fiscal at political crisis na kinakaharap ng bansa, sinabi ni Low na, "it is very wise for the Philippines to use the existing facilities. From what we have seen, we are confident that the Philippines can go on hosting the SEA Games. The Philippines needs the SEA Games because it unifies the country."

"We are happy with the cooperation within the Philippine Organizing Committee, the Philippine Olympic Committee, the PSC and the Task Force. You just have to get the people involved and create excitement to ensure the success of the Games.

Napansin naman ni Kelvin Boon Yeow Chua ang problema sa trapiko sa Lungsod ng Maynila.

"Our concern is the famous Manila traffic. But come SEA Games time, I have traffic issue will be solved," ani Chua, General manager ng Team Singa-pore. "It’s good that we experience good side, not just the traffic but the hospitality of the organizing committee."

Ayon kay Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez, ang trapiko ang top priority ng peace and security committee sa ilalim ni General Rodolfo Thor.

"There will be a special security and traffic ma-nagement program being prepared because the Games will be held simultaniously with the major international events -- ang World Medical Congress at Judiciary Congress," wika ni Ramirez. (CVOchoa)