Thailand ready to step in for Philippines as 2019 SEA Games host

Olympic Committee of Thailand (OCT) secretary-general Charouck Arirachakaran said Monday that the Kingdom has the capacity and infrastructure to host the Southeast Asian Games in 2019, if the Philippines pulls out and other countries in the region fail to step in.

The Kingdom would be ready to take over the organization of the Games if the Philippines officially withdraws from hosting the 30th Games, he said.

“Thailand have the potential to host the Games within a span of two years. Besides, the Games doesn’t require an athletes village,” Charouck said during the OCT executive board meeting Monday.

“We have provinces such as Chiang Mai and Chon Buri, which have enough competition venues and can accommodate a large number of athletes,” said the OCT official.

Last moth the Philippines said it is dropping the hosting of the 30th SEA Games to be held in Davao City in 2019 to re-channel government resources in favor of the rehabilitation efforts for the beleaguered city of Marawi.

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