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'It's terrible': How foreign press is reporting SEA Games hosting mess

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John Gabriel Agcaoili, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/sports/11/25/seagames.jpg"/><figcaption>A sports journalist waits for the press conference in what seems like an unfinished venue before the start of the Malaysia vs. Myanmar men&#x27;s football game of the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Manila on Monday. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE) </strong>- Foreign athletes and media personnel have complained of awful accommodations and accreditation for the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, days before the sporting event&#x27;s official launch.</p><p>From hotel reservations, and transportation to served food and media accreditation, members of foreign delegations to the sporting event experienced what they were not expecting from a country that had hosted the Games three times before this year.</p><p>Foreign press reported woeful preparations, particularly the ongoing renovation of the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.</p><p>Here are some of the international reports on the SEA Games:</p><div><strong>INDONESIA</strong></div><ul>	<li>Indonesian media outlet Suara Indonesia <a href="https://www.suara.com/sport/2019/11/25/172732/kontingen-indonesia-terlantar-di-sea-games-2019-ini-kata-cdm-merah-putih">reported</a> that the &quot;Indonesian contingent was neglected at the 2019 SEA Games&quot; after its national polo team waited for three hours at the Ninoy International Airport for transport to their hotel.</li>	<li>Indonesian news site detik.com also <a href="https://sport.detik.com/sepakbola/liga-indonesia/d-4797675/sepakbola-sea-games-2019-dimulai-kenapa-stadion-belum-beres">took notice</a> of the unfinished Rizal Memorial Stadium, asking &quot;why isn&#x27;t the stadium fixed?&quot;</li></ul><div><strong>THAILAND</strong></div><ul>	<li>Thailand&#x27;s Bangkok Post reported Akira Nishino slammed SEA Games organizers for their failure to provide adequate facilities.	<p>“I would want the players to have a good environment and good perfect meal. I’m wishing the organizers can provide [that] for our team players,” Nishino said, <a href="https://www.bangkokpost.com/sports/1801229/trouble-greets-thais-in-manila">according to Bangkok Post</a>.</p>	</li>	<li>Fox Sports Asia <a href="https://www.foxsportsasia.com/sea-games/1202531/sea-games-2019-thailand-coach-akira-nishino-lambastes-tournament-organizers-for-inadequate-facilities/">also reported</a> the Japanese football coach revealed his team had to train on the streets &quot;due to the distance between their hotel and the training pitch.&quot;</li></ul><div><strong>SINGAPORE</strong></div><ul>	<li>Straits Times reported that the Singaporean team <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/sea-games-singapores-football-netball-and-floorball-teams-face-catering-logistic-issues-in">sent a letter</a> to organizers, seeking &quot;urgent and immediate attention&quot; to issues experienced by their athletes in the Philippines, such as lack of inadequate food.</li></ul><div><strong>MALAYSIA</strong></div><ul>	<li>News site The Star Online <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2019/11/25/a-mess-in-manila-but-ongs-men-get-lucky">reported</a> Malaysia&#x27;s football contingent manager Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said they &quot;would have to manage&quot; since &quot;some stadiums were not completed.&quot;	<p>“The dressing rooms are still under renovation. But, we have a big game against Myanmar tomorrow, and our focus is on that match. We just want a good start,” Kamal said.</p>	</li></ul><div><strong>CAMBODIA</strong></div><ul>	<li>Khmer Post <a href="https://www.postkhmer.com/%E1%9E%80%E1%9E%B8%E1%9E%A1%E1%9E%B6/%E1%9E%80%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%9A%E1%9E%BB%E1%9E%98%E1%9E%80%E1%9E%98%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%96%E1%9E%BB%E1%9E%87%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%87%E1%9E%BD%E1%9E%94%E1%9E%9A%E1%9E%BF%E1%9E%84%E1%9E%9F%E1%9E%84%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%9C%E1%9F%81%E1%9E%82-%E1%9E%98%E1%9E%BB%E1%9E%93%E1%9E%87%E1%9E%BD%E1%9E%94%E1%9E%98%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%85%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%9F%E1%9F%8B%E1%9E%95%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%91%E1%9F%87%E1%9E%A0%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%9C%E1%9E%B8%E1%9E%9B%E1%9E%B8%E1%9E%96%E1%9E%B8%E1%9E%93">reported</a> that the Cambodian team was in a tragic situation where they slept, after they laid on a function area&#x27;s floor for almost five hours, waiting for their respective rooms at the hotel.</li></ul><p>Cambodian fans were suspicious this was a ploy by the Philippines since both countries&#x27; football teams were going to face off hours after their team&#x27;s arrival.</p><p>Some foreign media personnel also encountered accreditation issues for the Games.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/25/19/its-terrible-foreign-press-puzzled-over-sea-games-accreditation-process">&#x27;It&#x27;s terrible&#x27;: Foreign press puzzled over SEA Games accreditation process</a></li></ul><p>PHISGOC has apologized for the inconvenience and confusion on transportation, hotel arrangements, and other complications.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/24/19/sea-games-phisgoc-apologizes-as-travel-hotel-woes-hound-football-teams">SEA Games: PHISGOC apologizes as travel, hotel woes hound football teams</a></li></ul><p>“We acknowledge our shortcomings in this particular incident and vow to do better,” it said.</p><p>House Speaker and PHISGOC Chairman Allan Peter Cayetano also sought understanding.</p><p>&quot;Handang handa tayo na magbigay ng world class hosting, but even in world class hostings, tao tayo. Hindi perfect. Doon sa 75 arrivals, a great majority, 95 percent ay medyo natutuwa. For $50 a day, ang gaganda ng hotel na titirahan nila,&quot; he said. </p>

<p>From hotel reservations, and transportation to served food and media accreditation, members of foreign delegations to the sporting event experienced what they were not expecting from a country that had hosted the Games three times before this year.</p>

From hotel reservations, and transportation to served food and media accreditation, members of foreign delegations to the sporting event experienced what they were not expecting from a country that had hosted the Games three times before this year.

'It's terrible': How foreign press is reporting SEA Games hosting mess

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'It's terrible': How foreign press is reporting SEA Games hosting mess

John Gabriel Agcaoili,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 25, 2019 09:55 PM PHT

|

Updated November 26, 2019 04:42 PM PHT

Read More:

SEA Games

foreign athletes

press

media

Philippines

30th Southeast Asian Games

accommodations

accreditation

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