Tatlong taong paghahanda para masiguro ang tagumpay ng Southeast Asian Games hosting sa lungsod ng Davao City.

Sa ganitong programa nais ni Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez na umusad ang preparasyon ng Davao City bilang isa sa satellite venue ng biennial meet.

Ibinigay ng Southeast Asian Games Federation ang karapatan ng hosting sa Pilipinas sa 2019 at kaagad na tumalima ang bansa sa pamamagitan ng pagsumite ng “letter of intent” ni Ramirez.

Makasaysayan ang SEAG hosting sa Davao City.

'Pikon daw?' UAAP fan na nag-dirty finger, agaw-eksena sa San Juan Arena!

Una, ito ang ika-30 edisyon ng SEAG, dating Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games, mula nang simulan sa Bangkok noong 1959. 

Ikalawa, ito ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na mapapanood ang pinakamahuhusay na atleta sa rehiyon ng Muslim Mindanao at sa lungsod na pinagmulan ng Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, kilala bilang “DU30”.

“What a coincidence really, di ba? Thirtieth anniversary ng SEA Games to be staged in the hometown of President DU30. Parang iginuhit ng tadhana,” pahayag ni Ramirez sa panayam ng “Tropang Bistag” sa DZEC. 

Bilang pauna, nagsagawa na ng pagpupulong sa lokal na opisyal at ocular inspection sa mga posibleng venue ng SEAG sa Davao City at karatig lalawigan sina PSC commissioner Arnold Agustin at Charles Maxey.

Iginiit ni Ramirez, na malaking pananagutan ang hosting, ngunit handa sila sa PSC para ipakita ang kagandahan ng Davao City sa international.

“It’ll be tough job, I tell you. First, we have to insure that venues for the 20-plus sports as well as hotels to billet the 10,000 or so athletes and officials will be available,” aniya.

“But, we have three years to prepare, we still have plenty of time,”

“Besides, we have already secured the approval of the president, who promised to help.” 

“After all, it’s an honor, not only of Davao but of Mindanao itself and the Mindanaoans that we’re bringing the Games there. Hosting an event in the magnitude of the SEA Games gives us a rare opportunity to show not only to the SEA Games Federation-member countries but the whole of Asia and the world as well what the real situation in Mindanao is,” pahayag ni Ramirez.

“In 2019, we will be showcasing how beautiful Mindanao is and, how hospitable and kind we, Mindanaoans are, too, like the rest of us Filipinos in all parts of the country,” aniya.