CONTINGENCY measures are in place in case approaching typhoon Kammuri hits the country's hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
The Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) made the assurance on Friday in the wake of concerns that competition in the biennial meet will be stalled once the typhoon hits Northern Luzon by next week.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Kammuri has gained strength as it continued to make its way towards the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as of Friday.
It will be locally named Tisoy when it enters the PAR between Saturday night and Sunday morning as it moves closer to the Bicol region with sustained winds of up to 140 kilometers per hour.
But Phisgoc chief operating officer (COO) Tats Suzara said all sports, especially outdoor events, have made contingency plans in case weather disturbances or unfortunate incidents happen during the course of the Games.
He also allayed fears the Games will go beyond Dec. 11 if several events are affected by the anticipated rains brought about by typhoon Tisoy.
"In any multi-sports event, each sport has a contingency plan. Lahat ng competition managers, events managers, technical delegations are ready," Suzara assured.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino is hoping the New Clark City Stadium in Tarlac and other venues in nearby Subic won’t be affected if ever the typhoon hits Northern Luzon.
If the inevitable happens though, he admitted interruption of some of the scheduled events is inevitable.
“Definitely meron yang interruption sa mga schedules,” said the POC chief. “(Pero) ire-reschedule lang yun, so dagdag lang ng kaunting logistics."
Definitely there will be no extension of the Games, according to Suzara.
A possible change in format or even going through with the competition even in the absence of a crowd are among those to be considered in the event the schedule of events are affected by the typhoon.
“The technical delegate, who is the highest technical person appointed to the Asian Federation and the national federation, will consult with competition manager and senior management of Phisgoc to decide kung babaguhin ang format, among others, especially kung talagang high level na yung typhoon and disaster,” explained Suzara.
“Some sports will continue at maglalaro ng walang spectators. There are sports like that na continue ang laro pero walang spectators para hindi apektado ang public. Basta may ilaw, may officials, scorers, ballboys, etc. Ganun ang contingency plan in one scenario of one sport,” he added.
Phisgoc, according to Suzara, is in constant communication with PAGASA, which has a team that is part of the Games' main operation center at Clark that also includes all departments of Phisgoc, POC, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
“Mayroon tayong Pagasa there which is working 24 hours informing us about waves, tides, thunderstorms sa lahat ng lugar ng venues. So we’re updated every second, every minute ng Pagasa because they’re part of the main operation center,” said Suzara.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
