MANILA, Philippines – Organizers of the 30th Southeast Asian Games issued statement on Sunday on the reported logistical complaints of football teams from Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Cambodia and Thailand that arrived in Manila over the weekend.
The Philippine Southeast Asian Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) apologized on “for the inconvenience caused to them by the confusion regarding their transportation and hotel arrangements.”
Football teams of Myanmar and Timor-Leste complained about their long wait from the airport, with the latter being transferred to the wrong hotel.
The squads from Thailand and Cambodia complained that their rooms were not ready. Thai team also said their practice venue was too far away from their hotel.
“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," PHISGOC said.
PHISGOC also cited that change in arrival details of the Cambodian football team was relayed late to them.
It said transportation was "immediately provided" but it requested the team to be allowed to wait in a private hotel conference room because they arrived ahead of the standard check-in time of 2 p.m.
PHISGOC noted that there had been 75 international arrivals in the past two days “consisting of various sports team delegations, technical officials and representatives of the respective National Olympic Committees, that have gone off without a hitch.”
Netizens express disappointments
Netizens are pouring their sentiments on the travel and hotel woes that hounded football teams and the alleged corruption in the Philippine hosting of the regional meet.
The SEA Games 2019 is set from November 30 to December 11.
— The Summit Express
The Philippine Southeast Asian Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) apologized on “for the inconvenience caused to them by the confusion regarding their transportation and hotel arrangements.”
Football teams of Myanmar and Timor-Leste complained about their long wait from the airport, with the latter being transferred to the wrong hotel.
The squads from Thailand and Cambodia complained that their rooms were not ready. Thai team also said their practice venue was too far away from their hotel.
“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," PHISGOC said.
PHISGOC also cited that change in arrival details of the Cambodian football team was relayed late to them.
It said transportation was "immediately provided" but it requested the team to be allowed to wait in a private hotel conference room because they arrived ahead of the standard check-in time of 2 p.m.
PHISGOC noted that there had been 75 international arrivals in the past two days “consisting of various sports team delegations, technical officials and representatives of the respective National Olympic Committees, that have gone off without a hitch.”
Netizens express disappointments
Netizens are pouring their sentiments on the travel and hotel woes that hounded football teams and the alleged corruption in the Philippine hosting of the regional meet.
The #SEAGames2019 has gone from 5-peso printing jobs, to "Sinong maganda yung sulat? Eto marker oh". 🙃— Jael #SOGIEEqualityNow 🏳️🌈 (@dyaelgonzales) November 24, 2019
60B pesos stolen, tax money wasted on a failed event, while also being a diplomatic screw up. Congrats.#WeWinAsOne? The only one winning here is Cayetano's pockets. pic.twitter.com/IdLKcAH720
Reports are coming in about unfinished venues, poor services for athletes, and corruption on the #SEAGames2019. We loaned 11B for this hosting to push thru, yet the main organizers (Cayetano) poorly prepared everything & even had the gall to justify their lavish spending. Shame!— Sean Thakur #OustDuterte (@seanthakur) November 24, 2019
Dear ASEAN neighbor countries, we deeply apologize for the incompetence of our government to host the #SEAGames2019.— Tito Maroon #UPFight (@maroontito) November 24, 2019
Your athletes and ours deserve better. pic.twitter.com/zSMDhOp6Sa
#SEAGames2019— Nathan24 (@Nathan216701233) November 24, 2019
The SeaGames Organizer headed by Cayetano spent 50 million in Couldron while can't able to print the schedule list. Shame! pic.twitter.com/BoZhbMS2IK
Calling the resignation of the corrupt #SEAGames2019 head Alan Peter Cayetano & the Philippine Sports Officials! Massive corruption, lack of accomodation & transportation to foreign athletes. You are destroying the reputation of the Filipinos. What a mess!!! #CayetanoResign pic.twitter.com/nvfCbwqfhB— Larry Domingo (@LarryDomingo15) November 24, 2019
The SEA Games 2019 is set from November 30 to December 11.
— The Summit Express
