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Monday, July 11, 2005
Guardo to appeal decision
By Glenn C. Michelena
Sun.Star Correspondent
AS A counter-measure to the Philippine Taekwondo Association’s (PTA) decision to pull out the Southeast Asian Games taekwondo event from Cebu and stage it in Manila, Cebu Seag Organizing Committee (CebuSoc) head Jonathan Guardo said he will file an appeal with Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Chairman Robert Aventajado to reconsider the case.
“It’s late in the game already and we have already spent a lot of money in preparations for the Games,” said Guardo, who learned about PTA’s decision through Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee’s (Philsoc) Ritchie Garcia last Friday. “I was stunned.”
“Among the seven events Cebu will host, taekwondo is the best crowd drawer. If they take away taekwondo from us, what’s left?” said Guardo.
Air-conditioned venue
“The Cebuanos won’t be able to fully appreciate the spirit of the SEA Games if taekwondo ends up being staged in Manila.”
Originally, the taekwondo event was scheduled to take place at the Cebu Coliseum as Cebu City was tasked to host five of the seven events, including dancesport, sepak takraw, judo and karatedo.
Mandaue City will host pencak silat and Danao City will take care of the mountainbike event.
However, PTA recently requested PhilSoc to stage the competitions in Manila, saying that the competitions need air-conditioned venues.
“I find that odd, since the PTA already agreed to stage it here after their inspection,” said Guardo. “All they asked for was the Cebu Coliseum to be repainted.”
Guardo added that the appeal is the only blemish in CebuSoc’s preparations for the SEA Games.
“It’s all systems go for the SEA Games. The taekwondo issue is the only hitch in the plan but our hosting of the other events is going quite smoothly.”
(July 11, 2005 issue)
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