National trackfest set amid SARS scare

With or without SARS, athletes from Thailand, Malaysia and other Asian countries will soon set foot in the country to see action in the 2003 Milo National Open Track and Field Championships set May 1 to 4 at the Rizal memorial track oval.

"I have requested Thailand and Malaysia to send a full contingent," said RP track and field president Go Teng Kok yesterday despite the possible danger in bringing in athletes from countries inflicted with SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).

Go said bringing in the foreign athletes for the forthcoming event will help his association determine who among them would pose a serious challenge to the Filipinos during the 22nd Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam this December.

It will also serve as the basis in forming the national team to the biennial event.

Aside from Thailand and Malaysia, other foreign runners expected to join the Milo event will come from SARS-infected Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia.

Since the SARS scare broke out earlier this year, there have been 1,140 reported cases and 40 deaths in Hong Kong, 140 and nine in Singapore, 62 and five in Vietnam, 51 and one in Malaysia, eight and two in Thailand, and three and nill in Indonesia.

So far, the Philippines have been one of the least infected countries in Asia with just one reported case and no death. Worldwide, there have been 3, 272 reported cases and 130 deaths.

The Department of Health has recently advised Filipino athletes and sports officials through the Philippine Center for Sports Medicine, from pushing through with scheduled trips to countries with SARS cases.

The advisory, however, did not specify whether the different national sports associations are barred from inviting athletes from these infected countries.