- SCOOP
By Eddie Alinea
How the Philippines will fare in the coming Southeast Asian Games will be assessed at this week’s SCOOP On Air Forum on Friday, exactly a fortnight before the 30th edition of the biennial meet raises its curtains on November 30 at the cavernous Philippine Arena in Bocaue town in Bulacan.
Philippine Sports Commission chair William “Butch Ramirez, whose agency has been tasked with overseeing preparations for the biggest sporting show the country is hosting in 65 years since the 1954 Asian Games, will appear as principal guest in the Talakayan to be aired over the Manila Times Television.
Ramirez, who was also named the national contingent’s chef de mission, the same position he held in 2005 when the country last hosted the Games and finished with then overall championship, is expected to, once and for all, clear the picture on contradicting reports of how our athletes will perform.
Media reports quoting several sports officials had it that the host country is capable of scooping up 100 or so gold medals on the way to, again, romp off with the general championship.
Only last week, other high ranking sports leaders were even quoted of our representatives winning a seemingly improbable 200-gold medal harvest, which could be the highest by the Filipinos in their 42-year participation since 1977.
Claims that other sectors of society, including media itself, had contradicted.
Also invited to appear as guest is Lester Castillo, Nestle Philippines’ Milo Sports Director, one of the biggest supporters of the country’s sports development program since the mid-1960s.
Castillo will be informing the public of Milo’s contributions to sports, including offering incentives to athletes, who have carried the country’s flag in global competitions and the coming SEA Games.