Asiad host seeks cut in RP contingent

There’s a king-size problem in Doha.

Organizers of the 15th Asian Games set in Doha, Qatar in December has asked all 44 participating countries to reduce the sizes of their delegations by 15 percent barely 58 days left before the Games.

The reason, according to RP Asian Games Secretariat officer Moying Martelino, is that organizers are facing serious problems on how to accommodate more than 13,000 athletes and officials at the Athletes Village.

There are not just enough beds for everyone.

Martelino said organizers only expected around 10,000 persons to occupy the $600-million Athletes Village composed of 32 blocks of nine and five-storey buildings and a total of 811 flats or apartments.

The Philippines contingent, numbering 359 athletes and officials, will occupy 25 apartments. There will be 13 persons per apartment, and three persons per room.

A letter sent by Doha National Olympic Committee services head Louis Louis said they can only provide the Philippines with 316 beds. In this regard, organizers have asked Filipino officials to cut the size of the delegation.

This goes for the rest of the participating countries in the quadrennial event slated Dec. 5 to 15.

"Organizers don’t know where to put the excess persons. They’re lacking in bed spaces. And since no athlete will be allowed to stay outside of the Athletes Village, the number has to be reduced," said Martelino.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez said they are looking for ways to comply with the request from Doha, considering that the RP softball team composed of 26 persons is appealing for a late inclusion.

"But where will they stay? We’ve just been told that only 316 beds will be available for all of us. If only we can give up our beds then we will. We wrote the organizers that we’re not asking an extra apartment. All we need are extra beds and we will create some space," Ramirez said.

The PSC chairman, who’s also the chef-de-mission of the RP delegation, said they are still waiting for a reply from Doha before they make the final move.

"We cannot send people there knowing that they will have nowhere to stay," added Martelino, who also said that Dec. 8 will be the heaviest load for the RP delegation with 342 persons in Doha.

All participants will be provided free board and lodging as long as they should be there three days before and should stay two days after the schedule of their respective events.

Otherwise, they will have to pay.

Filipino sports officials were faced with lack of funds when they tried to reduce the size of the delegation. Now, they’ve just found a new reason: lack of beds.