POC to respect Vietnam's final say in SEA Games fate

POC president Bambol Tolentino bared that Vietnam is reluctant in making a decision on the SEA Games postponement right now.

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--The Philippine Olympic Committee said on Thursday night that it will abide to whatever decision the Vietnamese Olympic Committee will make regarding the Southeast Asian Games this year.

The 2021 edition of the biennial meet, scheduled for Nov. 21-Dec. 2 in Hanoi, is now in danger of getting postponed due to rising COVID-19 cases in Vietnam.

“We will respect the decision of Vietnam because we cannot do anything if they say the games are postponed,” POC president Bambol Tolentino said.

The VOC initially proposed on June 9 for the games to be played next year instead, but the POC and seven other national Olympic committees said no to the postponement.

[Related Story: Waiting game ensues in Hanoi SEAG fate as 8 NOC's oppose postponement]

With the cases still spiking there, the chance of the postponement remained, leading to speculations on the SEA Games Federation meeting earlier Thursday.

However, Vietnam asked for two more weeks to check out the pandemic situation there before making a verdict on the fate of the SEA Games.

[Related Story: Vietnam calls for 2 more weeks before making final SEAG decision]

“They are hesitant to make a decision,” Tolentino further said.

The SEA Games Federation will meet anew on July 8, and Vietnam might ultimately decide on the postponement matter.

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