POC to limit Phl delegation to 450 athletes

MANILA, Philippines - If the Southeast Asian Games Committee of the Philippine Olympic Committee will have its way, the country will be sending no more than 450 athletes in the 26th edition of the biennial meet this November in Indonesia.

Deputy chief of mission Romeo Magat, speaking in yesterday’s SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura disclosed the committee of which he is a member will be recommending for the approval of 650-member national contingent, 200 of them coaches, other team officials, delegation officials, including medical teams and members of the secretariat, when the POC executive council meets Wednesday next week.

 “The number of athletes, plus the some 200 officials, were arrived at following a series of meetings between members of the SEA Games committee and presidents and secretaries general of the 42 national sports associations whose sports our athletes will be competing,” Magat, secretary general of the Philippine Tennis Association, announced during the forum, sponsored by Coca-Cola Export, FILA, TV-5 and UNTV.

“During our meetings, we asked the NSAs concerned to recommend the names of athletes who they think are qualified to make the trip to Indonesia. The initial number of athletes recommended was 970,” he said.

As the meetings went on, the number of athletes recommended was reduced to 760 then 670 before it was finally pruned down to 450 in the committee’s recent meeting last Thursday, according to Magat, one of the deputy two CDMs named by the POC with the task of, among them, oversee the selection of membership of the national delegation.

The POC has yet to decide on the delegation’s flag-bearer although Magat said boxer Rey Saludar, gold medal winner in last year’s Asian Games stands to earn the honor.  

The number, which does not include baseball, Magat qualified, might still be reduced or increased depending on the wishes of the POC executive council in its meeting Wednesday, which incidentally, is the deadline set by the SEA Games Organizing Committee for the submission of official entries by name. 

He said baseball’s inclusion remains on hold until such time that the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association leadership shall have been settled although Magat added that PABA president Hector Navasero has already submitted his team’s lineup.