GTK also persona non grata in SEAG Village

MANILA, Philippines - Athletics chief Go Teng Kok, declared a persona non grata by the Philippine Olympic Committee, cannot participate in the Southeast Asian Games as a member of the Philippine delegation.

His position is taken over by his staff member of over 20 years – Maricor Pacheco – who serves as POC-accredited manager of the athletics team.

Go will still be at the SEA Games but he cannot stay in the athletes village and, certainly not get past the gates of the village and inside the POC secretariat’s office.

Through the intercession of the Asian Amateur Athletic Association, Go got a G-pass (Guest Pass) which allows him access to the track and field arena where his wards will compete.

Whether he will be allowed to present the medals to his athletes, as is the protocol in the SEA Games, remains a question mark since the

SEA Games is basically a competition among Olympic committees, not among national sports associations.

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Officials of the Philippine Sports Commission, led by Richie Garcia, can also not stay in the Athletes Village, because the SEA Games, like the Olympics and Asian Games, are off limits to government officials.

That goes with senators and congressmen who will be in the Games to observe. They have to be billeted outside the SEA Games Village.

However, government officials are accorded the courtesy of a “VIP Pass” which they can use to gain access to all venues.

Also media members must also be accredited by the POC to be able to cover the SEAG, Asiad or Olympiad.

Members of Philippine media also cannot enter restricted areas without a pass. The SEA Games secretariat issues a daily pass to media who would like to get past the gates of the Games Village. Otherwise, they do their interviews in the media center or close to the fence.