40 sports okayed for 26th SEA Games

Forty sports, 15 more than those contested last year in Laos, have been initially approved by the Southeast Asian Games Federation in the calendar of events for the 26th edition of the biennial conclave in Jakarta next year.

This was reported yesterday by athletics president Go Teng Kok, who represented the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) in the SEAGF meeting held May 29 in Jakarta during the SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura.

“There are actually 42 sports recommended and approved by the assembly, but futsal was placed under football and soft tennis under lawn tennis, thus reducing the number to 40,” the controversial sports leader said during the public service form.

As in the past Games, disciplines to be contested have been categorized into three — compulsory sports athletics and swimming under Category I, other sports played in the Olympic Games and Asian Games under Category II, those not played in the Olympics and Asiad under Category III and those indigenous events but played in several countries in the region.

Bodybuilding, which was listed under Category III, was also approved for inclusion although on condition that all the cases brought to the Federation for settlement because of rampant drug abuse involving many athletes.