PSC Commissioner and chef de mission Ramon Fernandez poses with PBA star and Gilas player Junmar Fajardo in the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam. | Photo from Fernandez’s Facebook page.
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner and Team Philippines chef de mission Ramon Fernandez urged the remaining Filipino athletes campaigning in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam not to let their health and safety guards down as the sportsfest enters its critical homestretch.
The Philippines is hanging on the third spot of the medal tally as of Thursday, May 19, 2022. It has 38 gold medals, 50 silver medals, and 65 bronzes behind Thailand’s 55-59-83 (gold-silver-bronze), while Vietnam’s medal haul stands at 129-78-76.
Indonesia and Singapore are eyeing to dislodge the Philippines at the third spot. Indonesia has 37-51-49 while Singapore has 37-40-49.
Amidst the action, Fernandez urged Team Philippines not to be complacent as the Covid-19 is still a huge threat to everyone’s health.
“I urge our remaining athletes to remain vigilant and not be complacent with regards to the health and safety protocols they must follow to compete in the Vietnam SEA Games. They cannot let their guards down,” said Fernandez.
“Let not all of their hard work, sacrifice, time and effort go to waste. They trained intensively and came here to compete and not wind up as mere tourists,” he said.
Amid the stern warning from Fernandez, he remains grateful that there has no been reports of delegates or athletes that tested positive for the Covid-19 since the start of the action last May 10.
It may sound a hassle, but athletes and coaches have to undergo standard safety and health procedures by taking antigen tests a day before their respective competitions.
Fernandez said that the contributions of the remaining athletes would be important in fueling the Philippine drive to hit the target of finishing third overall in the medal standings with hostilities winding up on Sunday.
“But if any of our remaining national athletes, especially our top medal prospects, test positive, how can they contribute to the country’s cause? Sayang naman ang pagpunta nila rito (Their coming here would be a wasted opportunity),” Fernandez noted.
Meanwhile, he announced that he issued a memo to the entire Philippine delegation last Monday on the health and safety protocols for the SEA Games participants whose events were over and returning to the country.
The PSC official said that athletes and coaches would be required to take antigen tests 24 hours and, in special cases, to undergo swab tests 48 hours before returning to Manila.
“The tests are for free and will be conducted by a medical group at the assigned hotels of our Philippine delegation,” said Fernandez.
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