Indons, Thais to crowd Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Based on the entries by number, SEA Games powerhouse countries Indonesia and Thailand are out to crowd the Philippines when the latter hosts the 30th edition of the biennial sports meet in November.

Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee executive director Tom Carrasco told The STAR that among the 10 foreign countries, Indonesia submitted the biggest number of projected entries at 1,700 followed by Thailand at 1,400.

The Philippines, as host, submitted 1,900 entries by number.

“But these are the entries by number and this will all change. From 1,900, I can see our number dropping to around 1,100 by the time we submit the official entries by name (on Sept. 2),” said Carrasco.

All 11 countries are initially allowed to submit an unlimited number of athletes before they prune them down to the final list. The final list of entries by name, however, must not exceed the initial list – per sport and per event.

The Philippines fielded 892 athletes in only 40 sports offering 443 gold medals when it hosted the 2005 SEA Games, and won the overall crown for the first time with a medal haul of 113-84-94.

In the coming SEA Games, the Philippines has penciled 56 sports and 524 events (including women’s water polo).