THE 29th Southeast Asian Games won’t be just be another celebration of the growing strength and cooperation of member nations.
The entire country of Malaysia will also rejoice its 60th independence day when the two-week biennial meet ends on Aug. 31.
Fireworks and a surprise show that will showcase Malaysian independence, culture and history is also in the works for the closing ceremonies.
After this, Malaysia officially turns over the hosting rights to the Philippines, which will host the 2019 Games.
Malaysian Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports Nik Abdul Kadir Bin Nik Mohamad said this yesterday following the conclusion of the Southeast Asian Games Rising Together-Baton Run at the Cultural Center of the Philippines grounds.
“We will celebrate a week before. And we hope to be champions before we celebrate nationally,” said Mohamad after he met with officials of the Philippine Sports Commission and Laos.
He was with PSC chairman William Ramirez, Philippine Olympic Committee vice president Joey Romasanta and Philippine delegation chef de mission Cynthia Carrion and Dato Razlan Abdul Rashid, the Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines during a meeting at the Sofitel Hotel. Rashid later turned over the symbolic baton to Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune, Laos Ambassador to the Philippines. Laos is the next destination of the Baton Run.
Like all countries competing in the Games, Mohamad said athletes in Malaysia are focused on their training and striving to earn the overall championship.
Ramirez said that the support of the PSC on the Philippine team is their way of drumbeating the success of the Games.
Rashid got the Baton Run started in Malacanang when he passed the baton to Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella.
Abella, in turn, passed it to Olympic silver medalist in weightlifting Hidilyn Diaz who carried the baton and led the run in the first stage (Malacanang) of the three-stage run. Other baton carriers were Josephine Medina-2016 Paralympics Bronze Medalist in table tennis; Olympians Marestella Torres-Sunang and Joy Tabal (athletics) and a member of the Gilas Pilipinas national basketball team.