Vietnam ‘war’ on, First Gent joins rites

HANOI, VIETNAM (Via Globe Telecom)–Twenty-eight years after the war, Vietnam plays host to the 22nd Southeast Asian Games today at the 40,000-seat National Stadium.

A joyous celebration featuring 4,000 young Vietnamese singers and dancers will highlight the opening ceremony which kicks off at 6 p.m. (7 p.m., Manila time).

Around 300 Filipino athletes and officials from a total number of 625 delegates will join the traditional parade of countries, marching fourth from last in a field of 11 countries garbed in an off-white barong Tagalog and black pants.

First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo, who arrived yesterday from Manila, is expected to join the parade, behind flagbearer Eduardo Buenavista and chief of mission Julian Camacho.

Close to 3,635 athletes are vying in 32 events in the cities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and Haishung in the biennial sportsfest, which Vietnam is staging for the first time in a clear manifestation of its great desire to pursue peace and development in the region through sports.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai will declare the games open.

The other campaigners in the SEAG are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, East Timor, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Filipinos will see action in 28 of 32 events, where a total of 442 gold medals will be up for grabs.

The Philippines is competing in swimming, diving, water polo, archery, athletics, badminton, basketball (men and women), billiards & snooker, bodybuilding, boxing, canoeing, chess, cycling (road race and mountain bike), fencing, gymnastics (artistic, rhythmic and aerobics), judo, karatedo, pencak silat, rowing, sepak takraw, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, traditional boat race, volleyball (men and women), weightlifting, wrestling and wushu.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit and Philippine Sports Commission chair Eric Buhain expect Filipino athletes to win a minimum number of 40 gold medals.

Two years ago in Malaysia, the Filipinos bagged 31 gold, 65 silver and 67 bronze medals.

Dayrit, who succeeded in getting the backing of Samsung through IMG (International Management Group) for POC activities including the SEAG here, hopes the Philippines would finish better than fifth in preparation for the country’s staging of the 2005 Games in Manila.

Camacho spoke on behalf of the participating countries during yesterday morning’s flag-raising ceremony at the National Stadium.

"While we all strive to win honors for our respective countries, the true aims behind the formation of the Southeast Asian Games should not be lost on," Camacho said.

Filipino athletes, who have opened their campaign in archery, boxing, water polo, women’s football, rowing and gymnastics in the sportsfest ending on Dec. 13, see action in four more events starting today—tennis, bodybuilding, chess and billiards/snooker.

World billiards champion Efren "Bata" Reyes and chess Grandmasters Joey Antonio and Bong Villamayor are among those strutting their wares today.

Reyes will compete in the 3-cushion carom singles, together with Reynaldo Grandea. Also playing today are veteran internationalists Warren Kiamco and Lee Vann Corteza.