Yet another threat to the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games cropped up yesterday after the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) threatened to deny the Philippines a permit to stage the Games if organizers will not reinstate six events scrapped from the official program. AAA secretary general Maurice Nicholas warned the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee that no permit would be issued unless it includes the men’s and women’s 5,000-meter, 10,000-meter and 20-kilometer walk events.

Nicholas said these events are standard events and should not be left out, especially with the athletes from 11 countries working hard for precious medals to be contested.

Together with aquatics, athletics is a mandatory sport.

Based on the rules of the International Amateur Athletics Federation, the entire program — or all 44 standard events — should be played in any international tournament, including the SEA Games, Asian Games and Olympics. Phisgoc programmed 523 events in 56 sports in a bid to stage the biggest, grandest biennial meet ever that is set to open this November at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

It, however, appeared to have overlooked the inclusion of six key events in athletics that could doom the hosting of this prestigious multi-sport conclave.

“Kindly note that you are required to apply for the Asian AA Permit to organize the Athletic Events for the SEA Games 2019 which you have not done so,” said Nicholas in a one-page letter.

“Kindly note that you will not be granted permit to run the Athletic Events of the Games if you do not include all the above events for Track and Field and Road Events of the Games.”

Nicholas’ letter was addressed to Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico and was dated 16 January. Juico, a former Philippine Sports Commission chairman, forwarded

the message to Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas, POC secretary general Patrick Gregorio and Phisgoc executive director Tom Carrasco on 21 January, but no concrete action was taken.

The matter was broached again during the Technical Delegates meeting with athletics’ technical delegate Cuddi Kotta Valson of India refusing to sign the list of events unless all standard events in the sport have been included.

Valson said he was given a marching order by the AAA that if the six events will not be included, athletics — a mandatory sport — will be withdrawn.

“Now, the secretary general of Asian Athletics Association, Mr. Maurice Nicholas, has asked me to request the organizer to include all events failing which athletics (sport) may have to be withdrawn from 2019 SEA Games,” said Valson in an e-mail to Phisgoc last 19 March.

During a press briefing after the POC general assembly meeting Thursday, Vargas simply brushed off the issue.

“I’m not saying that it won’t be reinstated. We will consider — but at this point, no. It will not happen,” said Vargas, adding that the letter could be a “threat” to twist the arm of the organizers to include the scrapped events.

“Please do not hold the Southeast Asian Games Federation and the Philippines as host country as hostage with that kind of statement. That’s not very nice, even from the IF (international federation).” Daily Tribune reached out to Carrasco, who said they are still deliberating the

possibility of reversing their decision.

“We are deliberating and will decide in due time,” Carrasco said. “I’m

positive that we can resolve this in the interest of our athletes in the SEA Games.”