‘Chaotic’ 2019 Southeast Asian Games suffer multiple problems over opening days

The organisers behind the Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines have apologised after complaints emerged of competing nations’ football teams sleeping on floors, airport delays and athletes complaining of going hungry.

Despite reports at the weekend that all venues were compete and that the Games overlay was in place, sports beginning competition before this weekend’s official opening have been beset by problems.

Football teams from Timor Leste and Myanmar waited hours at the airport before Games’ organisers arrived to shuttle them to their hotels while images of the Cambodian team sleeping on a conference room floor because their accommodation wasn’t ready have circulated on social media.

Thai athletes also complained there were not enough rooms, forcing them to squeeze three athletes into rooms for two, while Vietnam’s team has also asked for portion sizes to be increased, with the hotel asking them to formally apply to Games’organisers for bigger meals.

Singapore’s Chef de Mission, Juliana Seow, complained about transportation and insufficient halal food for his team’s athletes, writing to Games’ organisers “we urgently seek your urgent and immediate attention to address the situations we are facing. We had tried our best to be patient and understanding.”

Saying sorry for the “inconveniences”, Alan Cayetano, Chair of the Games’ organising committee, stated “we are apologising for the inconveniences or if I may call it inefficiencies or miscoordination.”

Days before the Games formally open, construction workers were still rushing to finish the venues. The first football match between Myanmar and Malaysia at the renovated Rizal Memorial Stadium proceeded without a scoreboard.

Even the local women’s football teams have complained about not being served enough food and water at their hotel.

In a press conference, coach Let Dimzon said “the quality and quantity of food is not enough” and lacked the nutrients the athletes need for their training.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has distanced himself from the public anger and his spokesperson placed the responsibility squarely on Cayetano. Spokesperson Salvador Panelo apologised for “unintentional inconvenience suffered by our athlete guests” and said Duterte “will not offer any excuses”.

Being held from 30th November to 11th December 2019, the 30th Southeast Asia Games

will be marked by the first major decentralisation in the history of the Games, with competition venues spread in 23 cities across the country, divided into four clusters, all located on the island of Luzon.

The hosting rights were originally awarded to Brunei in 2012, but the country pulled out days before the 2015 Southeast Asian Games due to "financial and logistical reasons."

With the Philippines stepping in July 2015 to host the games after Brunei's withdrawal, its hosting g was left uncertain following the withdrawal of Government support two years.  However, by 16th August 2017, the Philippine Government announced the reversal of the withdrawal.

The Philippines's hosting of the SEA Games has been suggested as a "stepping stone" for its possible bid to host the 2030 Asian Games.