SEA GAMES 2019, also known as the 30th Southeast Asian Games, a biennial regional multi-sport event participated by the eleven (11) members of the South East Asian countries. The SEA GAMES 2019, with theme “We win as One,” is hosted by the Republic of the Philippines, featuring a total of 56 games to be held along 23 cities across the country from 30 November to 11 December 2019.
The SEA GAMES 2019 edition marks by the first major decentralization in the history of the Games, with competition venues spread in 23 cities across the country, divided into 4 clusters, all located on the island of Luzon (Metro Manila, Clark, Subic/Olongapo, and a fourth cluster consisting of standalone venues).
This is now the 4th time for the Philippines to host the SEA GAMES events since 1981. The Philippines hosted SEA GAMES in 1981, 1991, 2005 and this year’s editions of the games. The 30th Southeast Asian Games is most notable for being the first edition to include esports and obstacle course as well as having the highest number of sports in the history of the games, with the total of 56 games.
The event is attended by an estimated of 8,750 athletes and team officials; 2,050 technical officials, 1,500 press and media practitioners; 12,000 volunteers; and a more than 500 million viewers, synergizing, converging, cooperating for ONE sporting experience of a lifetime!
SEA GAMES 2019 PREPARATIONS
In July 2015, the Philippines agreed to host the games after Brunei’s withdrawal. However, the Philippines’ hosting was left uncertain following the withdrawal of government support two years later as it planned to use the funds intended for the games for the rehabilitation of Marawi after being occupied by ISIS supporters. However, on 16 August 2017, the Philippine government announced the reversal of its withdrawal.
The 2019 SEA Games is spearheaded by Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) under Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as the organizing committee chairman. Meanwhile, the officials of National Sports Associations of the Philippines were also designated as competition managers responsible for the local arrangements concerning the competition or sport logistics, venue and equipment.
