By Joseph Pedrajas
CLARK, Pampanga – The Philippines will lead a “very memorable and historic” opening of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan today as it holds a first-ever opening ceremony that will be done in two venues, with Philippine boxing champion Manny Pacquiao lighting the symbolic torch at the New Clark City in Pampanga.
Ramon Suzara, Philippines South East Asian Games Organizing Committee Chief Operating Officer (COO), speaks during a media briefing at the International Broadcasting Center in Clark, Pampanga. (Mark Balmores)
“This has never been done before,” Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) chief operating officer Tats Suzara said during a press conference at the International Broadcasting Center yesterday.
“Let us look into this as a very memorable and historic opening ceremony that we have two venues at the same time…with our world class artists, Filipino talents and beauty queens,” he said.
Suzara stressed that, “it is the first in the history of the SEA Games that the opening ceremony will be held indoors.”
“A lot of questions about fireworks, it is indoor. How do we light the cauldron, it is indoor,” he said. “That’s the highlight. We’re doing the digital type of technology for the fireworks. This is quite different from the previous Southeast Asian Games.”
Pacquiao will be the torch bearer and will be joined by another Filipino boxing icon, Suzara bared.
Despite various snafus that greeted the participating athletes, Suzara believed the country is now “one hundred percent ready” to formally open the Games.
With a tropical cyclone threatening to dampen the sports events next week, Suzara still expressed confidence the country is prepared.
“All sports have contingency plans, even without typhoon that is coming into place, especially for the outdoor sports,” Suzara said.
“Everything is in place. What is important now is all competition managers should be prepared in case competitions will be cancelled,” he added.
Suzara said that each venue, particularly the ones holding outdoor sports, already has its contingency plan.
For sports event that may need to be cancelled in case of a heavy downpour, Suzara said, “it should be the decision of the formal delegate [to cancel].”
Upon the instruction of President Duterte, tickets for the SEA Games in some sporting events would be given for free.
Suzara said that these tickets may be claimed at the city halls or at certain malls.
“[They] need to undergo security check,” he said.
Several point-to-point buses (P2P) from and to sporting venues will also be available to public, the Phisgoc COO added.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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