Philippines won’t host 2019 SEA Games, says needs money for Marawi recovery
The Southeast Asia (SEA) Games 2019, originally planned to be held in the Philippines, are among the casualties of the Islamic State offensive in the southern Philippine city of Marawi in the autonomous region of Mindanao.
Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez said on July 21 that President Rodrigo Dutere advised him to pull out of hosting the 2019 SEA Games so that the government can divert the funds it would have used to organize the event to focus on rebuilding a city ravaged by a fierce battle between security forces and Islamic militants.
“Resources shall be focused on rehabilitation and rebuilding of Marawi instead of funding the 2019 hosting of the SEA Games,” Ramirez said in a statement.
“Due to the current situation in Mindanao, the problem of terrorism and atrocities, we will no longer push through with the hosting of the biennial meet,” he noted, adding that “it has been resolved that government resources be focused in the rehabilitation and rebuilding of Mindanao, especially of Marawi City.”
The Philippines agreed in 2015 to host the 2019 SEA Games after two other countries, Brunei and Vietnam, declined. Ramirez, however, said that at a later point of time, “when all is clear and peace and order had improved, after the 2020 Olympics we are positive and willing to host the SEA Games or any other international sporting events.”
The Philippine government has committed to 20-billion pesos ($396mn) from state emergency and disaster funds for a comprehensive master plan for Marawi’s reconstruction and rehabilitation when the Islamic State would be eventually be defeated in Mindanao.
The Southeast Asia (SEA) Games 2019, originally planned to be held in the Philippines, are among the casualties of the Islamic State offensive in the southern Philippine city of Marawi in the autonomous region of Mindanao. Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez said on July 21 that President Rodrigo Dutere advised him to pull out of hosting the 2019 SEA Games so that the government can divert the funds it would have used to organize the event to focus on rebuilding a city ravaged by a fierce battle between security forces and Islamic militants. “Resources shall be focused on rehabilitation...
The Southeast Asia (SEA) Games 2019, originally planned to be held in the Philippines, are among the casualties of the Islamic State offensive in the southern Philippine city of Marawi in the autonomous region of Mindanao.
Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez said on July 21 that President Rodrigo Dutere advised him to pull out of hosting the 2019 SEA Games so that the government can divert the funds it would have used to organize the event to focus on rebuilding a city ravaged by a fierce battle between security forces and Islamic militants.
“Resources shall be focused on rehabilitation and rebuilding of Marawi instead of funding the 2019 hosting of the SEA Games,” Ramirez said in a statement.
“Due to the current situation in Mindanao, the problem of terrorism and atrocities, we will no longer push through with the hosting of the biennial meet,” he noted, adding that “it has been resolved that government resources be focused in the rehabilitation and rebuilding of Mindanao, especially of Marawi City.”
The Philippines agreed in 2015 to host the 2019 SEA Games after two other countries, Brunei and Vietnam, declined. Ramirez, however, said that at a later point of time, “when all is clear and peace and order had improved, after the 2020 Olympics we are positive and willing to host the SEA Games or any other international sporting events.”
The Philippine government has committed to 20-billion pesos ($396mn) from state emergency and disaster funds for a comprehensive master plan for Marawi’s reconstruction and rehabilitation when the Islamic State would be eventually be defeated in Mindanao.
