OCM believes PHISOC can get SEA Games going

BANGI, Nov 19  -- The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has expressed confidence that the Philippines SEA Games Organising Committee (PHISOC) can resolve problems concerning venues and the scoring and timing system before the biennial games officially open on Nov 30.

OCM president Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria said he believed PHISOC would do its best to ensure the 30th SEA Games could proceed smoothly.

"This issue is expected. We need to realise that the Philippines is staging 56 sports compared to between 38 and 40 in previous games. Surely we can expect this issue to crop up although it is just about 10 days to the start of the games.

"But in the spirit of ASEAN, we (member countries) will discuss this matter further with the hosts at the SEA Games Federation (SEAGF) Council meeting which will be held before the opening ceremony of the SEA Games. We will try to help,” he said.

Earlier, Malaysia’s SEA Games chef de mission Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin had expressed concern that the organisers had not yet provided the scoring and timing system for several events.

He said a Malaysian company had been appointed by the organisers to do the job at the last minute but it was still “work in progress”.

Meanwhile, Mohamad Norza said the Malaysian contingent was in high spirits and ready to spring into action at the games.

He said although Malaysia might not be able to repeat the medal collection achieved at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, the 390 athletes making their debut in the region’s biggest sporting event would give their best to bring glory to the country.

Malaysia’s 774 athletes will compete in 52 of the 56 sports to be contested at the games.

-- BERNAMA