Sports

PORMAL  na kinilala ang presensya ng  11 competing nations sa 30th Philippine SEA Games Biyernes ng umaga habang isinasagawa ang simpleng flag-raising ceremonies sa Athletes Village sa New Clark City sa Capas, Tarlac. Mainit na sinalubong  ni Athletes Village Mayor Arrey Perez, Bases Conversion Development Authority vice president for Business Development, ang mga delegado ayon kay Team Philippines deputy chef de mission Stephen Fernandez. Dumalo sa okasyon ang Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam, at host Philippines kung saan itinaas ang watawat ng mga bansang kalahok ayon sa pagkakasunod-sunod. “Of course as the host, the Philippine was the last country to raise the national flag.” “It was a very simple program with the either the chief of mission or deputy chief of mission leading the respective delegations,” sabi Fernandez na kinatawan si Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez na siyang national team chef de mission. “There was an exchange of tokens while Perez gave an inspirational talk, reminding everyone of maintaining the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship when the actual competition begins and urging everyone in making the SEA Games a success,” dagdag ni Fernandez. Ginawa ang flag-raising isang araw bago ang opening ceremonies ng 30th edition ng regional sports showcase sa50,000-seat Philippine Arena sa Bocaue, Bulacan. “We expect a lot of athletes and officials to start streaming in to the Athletes Village today,” sabi ng deputy CDM. Sinabi rin ni Fernandez na maliban sa mga aquatics and athletics squads ay maaari ring manirahan sa NCC Athletes Village ang mga delegadong tumutuloy sa kalapit na lalawigan ng Pampanga. “The men’s and women’s softball teams have begun moving in and the other athletes who will be seeing action in Pampanga will also have their quarters here.”