Hanoi SEA Games postponed due to COVID-19 concerns

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--There will be no Southeast Asian Games happening this year.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino revealed on Thursday that the 31st edition of the biennial meet scheduled from Nov. 21-Dec. 2 in Hanoi will be pushed to 2022 due to COVID-19 concerns.

"The SEA Games Federation unanimously decided not to hold the SEA Games this year due to COVID-19," Tolentino said during an online press conference.

Talks of SEA Games postponement loomed largely over the midyear as COVID-19 cases in Vietnam spiked to record levels.

However, Tolentino said that Vietnam's situation is not the only reason behind the postponement but also those from other Southeast Asian nations.

"Medyo tumaas po talaga--nag-spike--sa Thailand, Indonesia, even the Philippines, and Vietnam," he explained.

He also clarified that the new dates of the SEA Games in Hanoi are still to be announced amid speculations on when it will now happen.

"Yan ang pag-uusapan pa ng NOC (national Olympic committee) ng Vietnam and their government," Tolentino clarified.

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