25th Southeast Asian Games 2009
After two years, the region's largest sporting event staging the best of Southeast Asia's talents is back with its 25th edition in Vientiane, Laos . The games was formally opened three days ago, December 9. Eleven nations will compete for the 379 gold medals at stake from 28 sporting disciplines until the 18th of this month. Compared to the previous editions, the number of sport disciplines has been trimmed due to the limited facilities and venues. Although, this edition is set to mark in the history of the games as this commemorates the silver edition and the 50th anniversary since the games' inception in 1959.
The 25th SEA Games Official Logo
Among the sports listed in this edition's calendar include archery, athletics, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, cycling, diving, fin swimming, football, golf, judo, karatedo, muay thai, pencat silat, petanque, sepak takraw, shooting, shuttle cock, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, water polo, weightlifiting, wrestling, and wushu.
Sports removed from this year's program were Philippines' gold mine events like baseball, bowling, chess, canoeing, sailing, gymnastics, hockey, rowing, fencing, triathlon, equestrian, softball, and basketball. These sports are due to return in the SEA Games in 2011, thanks to Indonesia--which will play as host.
The 25th SEA Games Mascots, Mr. Champee and Ms. Champa (Lao elephants).
I've always been excited when its a SEA Games year. I still remember in 2005 when the Philippines hosted it, that I had to take my Physics 51 exam without studying--as if I do study--just because I was glued to the TV all night watching Filipinos triumph in boxing, bowling, and swimming. The 2007 games in Thailand had me glued to the web instead of attending a class in Taxonomy. This year, the net is still my best friend especially that there is no television channel covering the games here in the Philippines.
The 2009 SEA Games is supposed to be an important event for the Philippines. I mean, this is because in 2007 the nation's rank slipped steeply to sixth out from being overall champion in 2005. This year's edition is important because all nations are playing on equal ground, eventhough our medal rich sports were removed--remember the alleged favoritisms and cheating claims in 2007--and this is the best time to redeem our stand as a sporting-power-to-contend-with in the region. This premise has been overlooked by our leaders. Instead, POC and PSC are in squabble as well as national governing bodies for certain sports--the most recent of which is the row in cycling resulting to the disqualification of our athletes including Maritess Bitbit who was supposed to defend three gold medals in this year's SEA Games.
Well, we can't do about these internal problems at the moment especially that the SEA Games is already halfway. Lets just hope that they'll solve all problems before the opening of the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.
As for now, i'll sit in front of Luffy--browsing the web for the latests in the 25th SEA Games happening in Vientiane.
Go Team Pilipinas!!!
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