The Philippines will have limited participation in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia next year.
Some national sports associations will not be able to join all events, according to chef de mission Joaquin “Chito” Loyzaga.
Loyzaga said this following the general assembly meeting of the Philippine Olympic Committee on Wednesday at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant in Paranaque City.
We still have to establish the number of athletes which will represent the national sports associations, aside from the sports events that they will join,” said Loyzaga.
A total of 608 events, covering 49 sports disciplines have been calendared for the biennial Games that will be held in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap from May 5 to 16 next year.
And POC president and Tagaytay City mayor Abraham Tolentino said the Philippines will focus most of its campaign in endurance races, triathlon, and duathlon.
He believes that this will be the biggest SEA Games in terms of events, but the Philippines may not be joining some events.
And to learn which events the country will be participating, they will have to go into one-on-one meetings with the NSAs within the week.
“We need to strategize. There are restrictions on some events. In some, we can join in seven of 10. And in others, 4 of 6,” said Tolentino.
One of the events that the Philippines is not familiar with is Ouk Chatrang, a Cambodian form of chess, along with Xiangqi and the martial arts of kun bokator.