PH Olympic body to appeal government's decision not to host 2019 SEA Games

Jose Cojuangco, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, said he wants to personally meet with President Rodrigo Duterte to explain why the government shouldn't worry about the cost of hosting the SEA Games. File

The leadership of the Philippine Olympic Committee said it is seeking a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte in the hopes of changing his mind about hosting the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Duterte, through the Philippine Sports Commission, said the country will no longer host the regional sports meet so the government can use the money intended to fund the Games for projects aimed at rehabilitating war-torn areas in Mindanao.

The PSC sent a letter to the POC last week expressing this intention.

During Wednesday's general assembly, the POC unanimously voted to appeal the government's decision.

"I will appoint a group to work on the plan of action and figure out the financial requirement," POC president Jose Cojuangco said during the meeting of sports officials in Mandaluyong City.

"We'll try to arrange a meeting with the president and directly appeal to him."

Source: http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/26/17/ph-olympic-body-to-appeal-governments-decision-not-to-host-2019-sea-games