10,000 studes sign up as volunteers

Ten thousand students from various schools in Metro Manila have signed up as volunteers for the forthcoming 23rd Southeast Asian Games featuring close to 8,000 athletes and officials from 11 nations.

National Youth Commission executive director Dino Badilla gathered these student volunteers to be allocated to several committees operating for the successful staging of the games slated Nov. 27-Dec. 5.

Hundreds will be utilized just for the opening ceremonies, joining the cultural performances in a grand production directed by renowned TV personality Maria Montelibano.

Also to be given volunteer-helpers are the different working committees including services and support under Cythia Carrion, sports operations under Philippine Sports commissioner Richie Garcia, marketing and merchandising under Jose Cura and media under Clarito Samson.

The committee on security is to employ about 15,000 security personnel coming from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and other government and private agencies involved in intelligence and security.

The awards committee, meanwhile, has tapped students from Lyceum to assist sports officials during the awarding of medals.

* * *

Like in its SEA Games debut in Vietnam in 2003, the East Timor delegation is campaigning in the 2005 Games with all its expenses to be shouldered by the host country.

A young independent country, East Timor apparently isn’t yet capable of allocating budget for endeavors like this.

East Timor is fielding 29 athletes participating only in seven — athletics, boxing, karatedo, tennis, taekwondo, volleyball and weightlifting – of 41 events featured in the Games.

* * *

Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee chief executive officer Jose "Peping" Cojuangco Jr. admitted they have no contingency plan in place should rains fall during the opening ceremonies set in Rizal Park on Nov. 27.

"Wala tayong contingency plan, kaya magaalay na lang tayo ng itlog para hindi umulan," said Cojuangco in reaction to reports that a number of typhoons more are expected before the year ends.

Philsoc is expecting a crowd of no less than half-a-million to witness the opening rites that would conclude with a dance party open to everybody.

"Gusto ko festive atmosphere at maging involved ang lahat sa venue," said Cojuangco.