MAHIGIT sa 1,200 atleta ang kakatawan sa Filipinas sa 30th Southeast Asian Games na gaganapin sa bansa sa Nobyembre 30 hanggang Disyembre 11.
Ayon kay SEA Games secretariat head Liza Ner, mas malaki ito sa 700 delegasyon sa 2017 edition na ginawa sa Malaysia kung saan nakapag-uwi ang bansa ng 28 gold medals.
Ani Ner, inaasahang madaragdagan pa ang bilang dahil hindi pa nakapagsusumite ang football ng kanilang accreditation form dahil hindi pa tapos ang eliminations nito.
“Football has yet to submit its official line up. We are expecting them to submit to us the names of the players this month,” wika ni Ner.
Bilang host, natural na inaasahang malaki ang bilang ng delegasyon ng bansa dahil maliit ang gastos nito at lumakas ang tsansang manalo ng maraming medalya.
“It’s normal and proper to send big number of delegation to have good chances to win more medals and the overall championship,” sabi ni Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman at Chief of Mission William ‘Butch’ Ramirez.
“Host country used to field many athletes to maximize winning potentials. Malaysia did it when it hosted the 2017 SEA Games. Gagawin din natin para lumakas ang tsansang manalo ng maraming medalya at makuha ang overall championship,” pahayag ni Ramirz.
“When I assumed the task as delegation head, sabi ko sa aking sarili, kailangang makuha ang overall championship at all cost.” CLYDE MARIANO