SEA Games: Athletes share mishaps in previous sports meets

After logistical problems in the Southeast Asian Games made headlines, several athletes shared their own experiences of glitches in previous regional sports meets hosted by other countries.

In a press release, the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) cited social media posts from former Gilas Pilipinas player Chris Tiu, former Philippine Azkals U22 player Alejandro Baldo Jr., and badminton national player Anton Cayanan.

"Many athletes lament that instead of cheering and supporting the athletes a few days before the official start of the SEA Games, the social media is flooded with negativities and criticisms," the press release read.

Baldo posted a video of the Azkals U22 team pushing a double-decker bus which appeared to have a mechanical failure after a tuneup game in Thailand in 2012.

"Dahil wais tayong mga Pinoy imbis na magalit at magreklamo ginawa na lang natin to sa pinakamasayang experience," he said.

"Problema sa pagkain kasi paulit-ulit, problema sa transpo at kung ano-ano pa. Lahat po yan ay napagdaanan ng mga atletang Pinoy 'pag tayo po ang dumadayo sa ibang bansa."

Cayanan, meanwhile, shared that the badminton and billiards teams also had to wait at the airport during the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia.

"Partida kasabay pa namin si 'The Magician' Efren Bata Reyes nun. Pero ayos lang samin lahat," he said. "Tapos kaming Badminton Team binaba kami sa maling hotel. So mga ilang oras din kami nag intay nanaman sa hotel na mali bago kami nasundo ulit."

Cayanan said they also experienced limited selection of food at the hotel but added the situation eventually improved.

"Para sakin lang. Hindi naman talaga maiiwasan na magkaron ng pag kukulang minsan ehh. Kaso ang masakit rayo tayo nanamang pinoy ang talagang nag papakalat pa eh," he said.

Tiu, who is a member of the organizing committee, urged Filipinos to cheer for the athletes and support the organizing team instead of using sports to "divide."

"Inevitably there will be hitches and inconveniences. And I’ve personally experienced many of them as a delegate before," he said. "Rest assured, the team will address and continue to find solutions to achieve the goals." —MGP, GMA News