BY NICK GIONGCO
MABALACAT, Pampanga – As the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games receives a beating, athletics chief Philip Juico called on the track and field squad to rise to the occasion and repair the “distorted image” of the biennial sportsfest.
“It is our duty to lift our country,” Juico said during Tuesday’s sendoff rites at the Marriott-Clark before the majority of athletes.
“Months and years of effort is over, work is about to start,” said Juico, who was joined in the event by chief backer Judith Staples of the Lucerne Group.
“Do your best. I know you will. (But) prepare smart. Do it not only for yourself and your family but for the country.”
The athletics competitions—happening at the New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac—will kick off on December 6 and will run until December 10.
Originally, 62 bets will compete but Juico said last-minute injuries on two athletes, trimmed the number to 60, 36 men and 24 women.
“There are so many negative things happening and it is our wish that we recover,” added Juico.
Save for a few Fil-Ams who are already in town, the majority of the athletes with foreign blood, are coming in anytime in the week.
Local talent EJ Obiena of pole vault, who is based in Italy, is arriving on Nov. 29.
