Southeast Asian Games 2005 in the Philippines

Philippines is ready for the Southeast Asian Games 2005

Check the latest update on the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, click here

Manila, Philippines - Oct 29, 2005

The Philippines, host to the Southeast Asian Games 2005, announced that all playing venues will be ready before the games reel off on November 27.

The Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc) president and chief executive officer Jose Peping Cojuangco said, "Except for the (Rizal) track oval which is now in its final stage of rehabilitation, all venues are almost 100 percent complete. We still have a month before the games (start)."

Cojuangco who is also the president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), gave an assurance that the rehabilitation of the venues will meet international federation standards.

Top foreign officials and representatives of the 10 National Olympic Associations gave an approval rating on all venues during their visit in the country just recently.

Listed by Philsoc as venues ready to be used are the Emilio Aguinaldo College (wushu and arnis), Cuneta Astrodome (taekwondo), Pearl Bowling in Makati (bowling), GSIS building (bodybuilding and muay), Valle Verde Sports Club (badminton), Amoranto Velodrome (cycling), La Mesa Dam (rowing, traditional boat race), Rizal track oval (athletics) and Rizal baseball stadium (baseball and softball);par Others include the Makati Coliseum (billiards and snooker), Philsports (women's football), Rizal Coliseum (gymnastics), The Country Club (golf), Alabang Country Club (equestrian), Makati Sports Club (squash), Ninoy Aquino Stadium (table tennis), Trace College in Los Banos (aquatics) and the PNSA shooting range (trap shooting).

Subic hosts the events of triathlon, sailing, archery, and canoe-kayak while Angeles City in Pampanga plays host to lawn bowls and petanque.

Sports in Cebu are dancesports, sepak takraw, pencat silat, judo and karate, while events of boxing, football, weightlifting and volleyball will be held in Bacolod.

The Southeast Asian Games 2005 will be held in the Philippines from November 27 to December 5, 2005. This will be the third time the Philippines will be hosting the event. The previous two events were in 1981 and 1991.

The event will kick off at the Luneta Grandstand in Manila, with a parade of rich and colorful cultures of the eleven participating countries.

(PNA)