By Nick Giongco
Thirty-nine venues across Central and Southern Luzon and Metro Manila will play host to 56 sports during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, the PhilsGOC inner circle said yesterday.
The main hub of Clark will stage the biggest number of sports – 21 – with Metro Manila at second with 20. Subic will have 14 while the combined Cavite, Laguna and Tagaytay will hold 4.
But Metro Manila, where the high-profile sports are taking place, has 15 venues, including prime spots like the Mall of Asia Arena, Smart-Araneta Coliseum and The World Trade Center.
The opening rites will happen at the Philippine Arena on Nov. 30 while the closing ceremonies will take place at the soon-to-be-built Clark Sports Complex where competitions in athletics and swimming are going to be contested.
Tagaytay congressman and Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Bambol Tolentino said the final number of athletes and officials attending the biennial sportsfest will be known by March.
So far, more than 10,000 athletes are taking part but only after March 15 entry-by-names lapses that the final composition will be determined.
Aside from the Olympic and traditional sports, the 2019 SEAG will also see the participation of E-Sports.
