Garcia backs POC on SEA Games issue

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia said it’s about time members of the SEA Games Federation sat down and took a second look at their structure.

“Because things are getting out of hand already,” said Garcia, who cited flaws in the rules covering the sports and events being played in the biennial event.

Garcia supported the idea of Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco inviting members of the SEA Games Federation over for a meeting.

Cojuangco is hoping to get the attention of his fellow members as he tries to raise concerns over the officiating and the events being played and the number of medals being staked.

“The POC has the authority to call for a meeting among the members of the federation and for all of them to look at the sports being played in the SEA Games,” said the PSC chairman.

“It changes quite too often. Pabago-bago. And sometimes people (other members) don’t realize that certain events have already been scratched,” Garcia added.

In the next SEA Games in Singapore in June, a total of 402 gold medals will be disputed in 36 sports.

It’s been a common practice in the SEA Games for the host country to include traditional and indigenous sports and offer as many gold medals as they want.

The host country can also exclude certain events where their own athletes are not too comfortable with. In return, they increase the number of medals staked in sports they can dominate.

In the 2013 SEA Games even Olympic sports like gymnastics, tennis and beach volleyball were scratched from the calendar in favor of sports like vovinam, kempo and chinlone.

This gives host countries the advantage over the