Philsoc to assure hassle-free Games

The presentation of reports by all committee chairmen of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc) will be the first order of the day at the start of the Chefs de Mission meeting among member countries of the Southeast Asian Games today.

The meeting starts at 8 a.m. at the plenary session of the Casino Filipino in Parañaque.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William "Butch" Ramirez, representing the country as deputy chef de mission in the absence of sports godfather First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, was so impressed with the committee reports during the dry run presentation yesterday that he said this will show the whole picture as far as the country’s preparations for the Nov. 27 to Dec. 5 meet is concerned.

"Very impressive," said Ramirez. "The report will give the visiting sports officials the idea of what the organizers have done so far to assure a smooth, hassle-free and successful staging of the Games," said Ramirez.

Philsoc secretary-general Steve Hontiveros led local sports officials who welcomed the foreign visitors and delegates who arrived yesterday.

Indonesia is led by Djoko Pramono and deputy Ahmed Solihin, while Thailand is represented by Gen. Yuthasak Sasiprapha, the president of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand.

Vietnam has a five-man delegation headed by deputy chief de mission Ha Kha Laun, while Malaysia is sending their top two sports czar in Low Beng Choo and Enrick Ahmad Shapawi Ismar.

Brunei is led by Kapar Bangkol; Cambodia by Bun yi Prum and Myanmar by Thuang Htike. Also expected to arrive were Anthony Lee (Singapore), Somphou Phongsee (Laos), and Antonio Ximenes of Timor-Leste.

All the officials are billeted at the Hyatt Hotel while some members of the Thai delegation are housed at the Diamond Hotel. Thailand has the biggest number of delegates with 12.

Philsoc president and chief executive officer Jose "Peping" Cojuangco cut short his trip in Geneva, Switzerland and is expected to return home tomorrow to meet the visiting officials.

"He will come home on Sunday in time for the groups’ press conference on Oct. 4," said POC media liaison Joey Romasanta.

Venues and security are expected to top the agenda, but Ramirez said he expects to get a passing mark from the areas concerned based on the presentation made by the security group headed by Police Director Rodolfo Tor and venue czar Richie Garcia.

"There’s some gray areas we expected to be tackled, but as far as venues and security are concerned, there’s no problem here," said Ramirez.

The traffic situation in Manila and the location of some venues were the main concerns raised by Thai and Singapore officials who conducted ocular inspections to the different venues just recently.