Thailand offers taking over as SEA Games host from troubled Philippines
Thailand sport officials said the country was ready to host the 2019 Southeast Asia (SEA) Games, the 30th edition of the major regional sports event, if the Philippines sticks to its decision to withdraw from hosting the biennial games.
According to Olympic Committee of Thailand Secretary-General Charouck Arirachakaran, Thailand’s offer to host the games would depend whether any other country steps in.
The Philippines Sports Commission announced last month that the country will withdraw as 2019 SEA Games host due to the ongoing Islamic State-linked insurgency in the southern city of Marawi and save the money that would be necessary to host the games for the reconstruction of the widely destroyed city.
However, the Philippines still has to make its withdrawal official during the SEA Games Federation Council meeting on August 17-18 in Kuala Lumpur.
Thai officials said the country was able to host the 2019 SEA Games as the event does not require an athletes’ village and that provinces such as Chiang Mai and Chonburi had enough competition venues and were capable of accommodating a large number of athletes.
This year’s SEA Games are being held in Kuala Lumpur, while Vietnam and Cambodia are the hosts of the 2021 and 2023 editions. Thailand is the next country in alphabetical order to take the place of the Philippines since Singapore already declined.
Thailand sport officials said the country was ready to host the 2019 Southeast Asia (SEA) Games, the 30th edition of the major regional sports event, if the Philippines sticks to its decision to withdraw from hosting the biennial games. According to Olympic Committee of Thailand Secretary-General Charouck Arirachakaran, Thailand's offer to host the games would depend whether any other country steps in. The Philippines Sports Commission announced last month that the country will withdraw as 2019 SEA Games host due to the ongoing Islamic State-linked insurgency in the southern city of Marawi and save the money that would be necessary to host the games...
Thailand sport officials said the country was ready to host the 2019 Southeast Asia (SEA) Games, the 30th edition of the major regional sports event, if the Philippines sticks to its decision to withdraw from hosting the biennial games.
According to Olympic Committee of Thailand Secretary-General Charouck Arirachakaran, Thailand’s offer to host the games would depend whether any other country steps in.
The Philippines Sports Commission announced last month that the country will withdraw as 2019 SEA Games host due to the ongoing Islamic State-linked insurgency in the southern city of Marawi and save the money that would be necessary to host the games for the reconstruction of the widely destroyed city.
However, the Philippines still has to make its withdrawal official during the SEA Games Federation Council meeting on August 17-18 in Kuala Lumpur.
Thai officials said the country was able to host the 2019 SEA Games as the event does not require an athletes’ village and that provinces such as Chiang Mai and Chonburi had enough competition venues and were capable of accommodating a large number of athletes.
This year’s SEA Games are being held in Kuala Lumpur, while Vietnam and Cambodia are the hosts of the 2021 and 2023 editions. Thailand is the next country in alphabetical order to take the place of the Philippines since Singapore already declined.
