Photo: Sea Games PH 2019
The 30th South East Asian Games is here and this year it’s the Philippines’s turn to host… that is, if they’re ready?
The SEA games is officially starting on the 30th of November but athletes from neighbouring countries have already arrived, as some games such as football have already begun while others were training and settling into their accommodations.
Unfortunately, just by looking at the amenities and social media updates during the SEA Games, it doesn’t look like the Philippines didn’t receive the memo that they’re hosting it this year.
With the hashtag #SeaGamesFail2019, many have taken it upon themselves to report what’s happening there.
For starters, the stadium that the athletes are supposed to compete in is still being renovated…just hours before the football match kicked off.
On top of delayed check-ins and transportation issues, athletes were also made to wait…
…. and wait some more.
There was also no room being prepared for all that waiting.
Photo: Asean Football News
Is this the Press Conference room or are we back in school?
Photo: Facebook Thairathcheersthailand
No posters? No problem!
Photo: Twitter @MugniFadilR
This user said it took him 30 minutes to do a power point.
Food was barely enough for athletes requiring a well-balanced diet to compete.
Muslims athletes will probably starve since there was no halal food served either. Kikiam, a type of pork roll, served for breakfast.
Photo: Twitter @asmegsleeps
In fact, athletes from Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia had to go out of their way to get food as there’s just not enough food to go around!
Many have also likened the SEA Games to Fyre festival, the infamous failed 2017 luxury music festival that was handled by (now convicted) organizer Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rule.
Many Filipinos are embarrassed at the situation and have apologized on behalf of their country. While athletes from the home team urged the public to unite and support team Philippines, amid all the SEA Games criticism online.
Teams from Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste have all voiced out their concerns, and the Philippine South East Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) chair Alan Peter Cayetano has since apologized and ensured that the Philippines will be hosting a “great and meaningful” event.
We hope the organizing committee will get their act together soon and that this year’s SEA Games won’t go down as the worst SEA Games in history. There’s still time!
By: Siti Farhana Sheikh Yahya
