[Tlc] L-politics of SEA Games

[justinm at ucr.edu]

FYI.
Thanks,
justin



2008-0905 - The Daily Tribune - SEA Games ’09 in Laos on verge of cancellation

http://www.tribune.net.ph/sports/20080905spo1.html

FEDERATION DIVIDED OVER RULES, MONEY

SEA Games ’09 in Laos on verge of cancellation

By Julius Manicad

09/05/2008

A major squabble is seen to erupt within the Southeast Asian Games Federation and may force the possible cancellation of the 25th SEA Games set in Laos in December next year.

Go Teng Kok, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) sports and rules chairman, yesterday revealed the biennial meet is on the verge of getting scrapped following the escalation of a marketing and revenue-sharing conflict between the host country and Thailand.

Thailand initially vowed to support Laos in its first hosting of the SEA Games, offering use of its facilities for events which Laos, a former French colony, has no capability of hosting.

Laos will only host 22 events, half of the 43 events which Thailand hosted last year.

Thailand, however, withdrew its offer, prompting Laos to scamper for resources to be able establish the multimillion facilities needed for the Games.

Laos is also said to be seeking 75 percent of the television rights and for changes in crucial provisions in the current charter of the SEA Games federation. The host country is also batting for a headquarters to be established somewhere in the nearby Thailand.

That would leave all SEA Games members sharing whatever would be left from the 25 television revenues.

Go is set to attend an urgent, two-day “extraordinary meeting” on Sept. 8 in Laos in an effort to save the Games.

Go said he will meet with Thai sports officials in Bangkok before boarding a 45-minute flight to Vientian.

“They are cooking up something. With the way they talk, you know that something wrong is going on,” Go said. “We will not go there to talk about sports, but to talk about the charter change. That’s the reason why all other countries are looking for support.”

Despite the troubles hounding next year’s biennial meet, POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco remains upbeat they will overcome another controversy in the troubled organization.

“They are all men of honor,” Cojuangco said. “These leaders have been there for almost 30 years, and I know they will come up with a decision that is beneficial to everybody.”

The Daily Tribune © 2006
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Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu