Philippines ready to host next month's SEA Games

Philippines ready to host next month's SEA Games

Agencies, Manila

The Philippines is ready to host the 23rd Southeast Asian Games next month despite the country's tight finances and fears of terrorism, officials said on Tuesday.

The Philippines has raised more than 80 percent of the 1.1 billion pesos (US$19.6 million) budget, with most of the donations coming from some of the country's top corporations, said Jose Cojuangco Jr., president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

More than 7,000 athletes and officials from 10 Southeast Asian countries and East Timor will compete in 41 events on Nov. 27- Dec. 5.

Philippine police, mindful of the recent bombings in Bali, have laid out strict security measures.

Police Director Rodolfo Tor, chairman of the games' security committee, said 15,000 police, soldiers and private security guards will be deployed, according to The Associated Press.

He said police have not received any reports of specific threats against the games, and there is "ample intelligence" in place to get advanced warnings. He noted that security measures were put in place several months ago.

As a way of spreading costs and encouraging participation of local officials and communities, some of the events will be held outside metropolitan Manila, Cojuangco said.

"There is more excitement there than here in metro Manila," he told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

Boxing, soccer, weightlifting and beach and indoor volleyball will be played in Bacolod on the central island of Negros. The Subic Bay Freeport, the former U.S. Naval base west of Manila, will be the venue for archery, canoe-kayak racing, sailing and triathlon.

Central Cebu, the country's second largest urban center, will host cycling, judo, karate, the martial art pencak silat, sepak takraw and dance sport.

Cojuangco said 441 gold medals were up for grabs and he expected the Philippines to end up overall champion with at least 107 golds.