Philippine athletes to the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar in 2013 are to compete only in sports that are also offered in the Asian and Olympic Games, according to Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia.
Garcia said this would help lower the cost of participation in the biennial event as well as stop the practice of fielding athletes in non-Olympic events where they have no chance of winning any medal.
“In the SEA Games, it has been the practice for host countries to include indigenous or traditional sports which the host nation tends to dominate,” he said.
Garcia, who had just returned from the Asean Sports Ministers meeting in Indonesia, said most of the SEA Games participating countries have agreed to limit the events to sports that are actually in the Asian and Olympic games.
Acknowledging that it may be a little late to adopt the changes for the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar, he said what is important is that the proposal had been introduced to Asean members.
“We will discuss the matter with the Philippine Olympic Council,” he added.
At last month’s 26th SEA Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia organized 43 sports, the highest number ever offered at the biennial games. It was not surprising that host Indonesia won the most number of medals [PNA/BERNAMA]
