Sports leaders in charge of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games are putting up a crisis committee that will handle day-to-day concerns of the country’s preparation of the biennial meet. With less than three months left before the 30 November to 11 December event, House Speaker and Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) chairman Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano said they all agreed to give Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William

Ramirez an active role in the committee. “It’s more of a refinement of the present organization but part of the plan, in any multi-sports event this magnitude, there’s a need for a crisis committee with so many problems we encountered. The delayed in budget, politics in sports and there’s too

much at risk,” Cayetano said. “And chairman (Ramirez) will take a front and center role. It’s a matter of whipping all the

preparation into place so that we can go to the next phase,” he added.

Cayetano, Ramirez and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino will meet on Monday to set up the committee.

Ramirez, who spearheaded the fifth consultative meeting with different national sports associations (NSA) yesterday at the Philippine International Convention Center, admitted there are still concerns with regards with the country’s preparation for the 11-nation meet.

One of the major concerns is the procurement of the equipment to be used in the SEA Games.

“We give ourselves until Monday. If Monday we are not able to pull it through, it will be a big problem,” said Ramirez, also the chief of mission of the country for the biennial meet.

And since the PSC is the primary agency here, they are willing to take the front and center role.

“Some people have to move out from their job because they are not doing their job. On Monday, we will make a decision. Some people have lapses for a long time and that will be enough. The country is at stake here,” he added.

Aside from procurement, other concern that was raised during the consultative meeting was the official venue.

Sports like floorball and obstacle sports have yet to identify their venues for the event.

“These are the problems that I thank we can solve on our own. I’ll be working with Phisgoc and the POC regarding this matter,” Ramirez said.

Cayetano said Phisgoc will continue to run the show for the SEA Games but there must be a “man or woman who will take charge” to act as a leader on the ground.

“These are natural birth paints of hosting such a big event. Nevertheless, we’re not willing to take any chances,” Cayetano said.

“And since the PSC is the primary agency here, they are willing to take the front and center role.”

Wrestling returned to the sports calendar of the 30th edition of SEA Games, putting back

the total number of sports to 56.