PH to host SEA Games in 2033: Tolentino

FILE: Filipino athletes make their entrance as they join the parade during the opening ceremony of the Philippines 2019 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on November 30, 2019. REY BANIQUET/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – The Philippines will again host the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2033, Philippine Olympic Committee president, Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, said Thursday.

The country’s fifth hosting of the biennial regional games is set half a generation after its most successful hosting in 2019 under Tolentino’s watch, where Filipino athletes emerged overall champion.

“We offered a bid to host anew in 2033 and the council unanimously approved,” Tolentino said, referring to Wednesday’s SEA Games Federation Council Meeting in Phnom Penh, host of next year’s 32nd edition of the games.

Vietnam hosted the one year-postponed 31st edition in May.

After Cambodia, the games return to Bangkok in 2025, Kuala Lumpur in 2027, Singapore in 2029, and Laos in 2031.

The Philippines first hosted the SEA Games in 1981, then in 1991 and 2005, when it also emerged overall champion.

Only Timor Leste has not hosted the games.

Tolentino said the 2033 hosting would be formally presented to Malacañang for the Philippine government’s acceptance of the responsibility.

“After presenting the hosting bid to the council, and following its approval, the POC and the SEA Games Council will ask the Philippine government to issue a letter of support,” said Tolentino, who was accompanied in Phnom Penh by deputy secretaries general Bones Floro and Carl Sambrano. “If the government declines, the hosting chores will be offered to another country.”

The country was third overall in 1981 with a 55-55-77 gold-silver-bronze medals tally, second to Indonesia by one gold in 1991 with 91-62-84, first in 2005 with 112-84-94, and again No. 1 in 2019 with 149-117-121.