By Jonas Terrado
PHISGOC on Sunday apologized for the problems encountered by men’s football teams upon their arrival the other day for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
SEA Games football coaches, from left, Felix Dalmas of Cambodia, Velizar Popov (Myanmar), Goran Milojevic (Philippines), Ong Kim Swee (Malaysia) and Fabiano Flora (East Timor) field questions during a press conference at Century Park Hotel in Manila Sunday. (MB Photo / Jansen Romero)
Myanmar and Timor-Leste had to wait several hours for their buses to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport while Cambodia was forced to stay in a conference room while waiting for their hotel accommodations.
The PHISGOC statement didn’t mention issues dealt by defending champion Thailand, which forced to cancel its training session at the Rizal Memorial Stadium after getting stuck in traffic.
“We sincerely apologize to our athlete guests from Timor-Leste, Myanmar and Cambodia for the inconvenience caused to them by the confusion regarding their transportation and hotel arrangements,” PHISGOC said in a statement.
“While PHISGOC strives to ensure proper coordination of the arrival details, airport welcome and transportation provisions of all international teams to their respective assigned hotels, we acknowledge our shortcomings in this particular incident and vow to do better,” the statement added.
But PHISGOC insisted that it was able to sort out the problems after coordinating with the teams.
“For the information of the public, the confusion with the Timor-Leste football team happened when some of their members were initially brought to the Century Hotel along with the rest of the team. However, the Timor-Leste coordinator pointed out that some were actually billeted at the nearby Hotel Jen. PHISGOC was able to arrange the delegates’ shuttle to the other hotel,” PHISGOC said.
“As to the Cambodian football team, their change in arrival details was relayed late to the PHISGOC Games Services Department. Instead of the arrival time initially relayed to PHISGOC, the Cambodian team arrived in NAIA at 4AM.
“Transportation was immediately provided, but since their hotel rooms were not yet available because the standard check-in time is 2PM, PHISGOC requested that the team be allowed to wait at an air-conditioned private hotel conference room with tables and chairs where the members could rest and feel comfortable while waiting for their rooms.
“There were 34 international arrivals on Friday, November 22, in our NAIA Terminals, consisting of seven sports team delegations, technical officials and representatives of the respective National Olympic Committees. Yesterday, November 23, there were 38 arrivals in our NAIA Terminals and 5 arrivals in our Clark International Airport of SEA Games athletes, delegates and officials.
“While we are pleased to report that in the past two days there have been 75 international arrivals, consisting of various sports team delegations, technical officials and representatives of the respective National Olympic Committees, that have gone off without a hitch, the incident with the two teams remain a constant reminder for us as organizers to be more diligent. We owe it to our guests and our countrymen,” the statement added.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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