Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richie Garcia is boycotting the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar in December and will encourage his four commissioners to do the same, according to a report on Tuesday by Abac Cordero in the Philippine Star.
The PSC chief has openly expressed his dismay over Myanmar’s attempt to manipulate the results of the biennial event in favor of its athletes, the report said, noting that the Myanmar authorities had removed sports such as gymnastics, beach volleyball, baseball, dance sports and lawn tennis in favor of local martial arts barely known in other countries.
“Of the 36 events which the Filipinos won in the last SEA Games, 16 will not be played in Myanmar,” the report said.
“As chairman of the PSC, I will not attend the SEA Games and will encourage my commissioners to do the same. If the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will not show any sign of protest, the government will,” said Garcia.
The PSC chairman said he will suggest to POC president Jose Cojuangco that he host a meeting among members of the SEA Games Federation to discuss the matter.
