|
Monday, July 07, 2003
Sars gets in the way of jocks’ preparation
PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee President Celso Dayrit does not expect much from the country’s athletes who will compete in the Southeast Asian Games (Seag) in Hanoi, Vietnam in December.
He said many of the RP team players failed to make extensive preparation because of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) epidemic, which has affected most of Asia.
Dayrit, in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu yesterday, said many national teams that were scheduled to train abroad, have been forced to stay in the country because of the Sars outbreak.
“This also goes for the other Asian countries affected. That is why we have not been getting the exposure that we need to further train our athletes,” Dayrit said.
However, he explained that having a big medal haul in Vietnam is not their top concern as this year’s Seag will be used as a preparation for the 2005 Seag, which the Philippines will host.
“Being the host of the 2005 Seag, we have to really make a good showing,” Dayrit said.
And as the Sars scare subsides, Dayrit said some of the RP teams have already booked tune-up competitions against other Southeast Asian countries.
Meanwhile, Dayrit said they have yet to receive an official statement from the Seag committee and the organizing committee in Vietnam regarding a reported spreading of another disease, the Japanese encephalitis.
Dayrit, though, was optimistic the mosquito-borne disease will not be as serious as the Sars and will be contained before the December games.
Earlier reports said the epidemic, which attacks the nervous system and is characterized by high fever, can be treated and is not deadly as the Sars. CBR
|
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
