(Eagle News)–The Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) on Sunday, Nov. 24, apologized to some international football teams after they encountered transportation and hotel arrangements upon their arrival in the country.
“We sincerely apologize to our athlete guests from Timor-Leste, Myanmar and Cambodia for the inconvenience caused to them by the confusion regarding their transportation and hotel arrangements,” PHISGOC said.
According to PHISGOC, the “confusion with the Timor-Leste football team happened when some of their members were initially brought to the Century Hotel along with the rest of the team.”
“However, the Timor-Leste coordinator pointed out that some were actually billeted at the nearby Hotel Jen. PHISGOC was able to arrange the delegates’ shuttle to the other hotel,” PHISGOC said.
As for the Cambodian football team, PHISGOC said “their change in arrival details was relayed late to the PHISGOC Games Services Department.”
PHISGOC said the team instead arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 4 a.m.
“Transportation was immediately provided, but since their hotel rooms were not yet available because tbe standard check-in time is 2 p.m., PHISGOC requested that the team be allowed to wait at an air-conditioned private hotel conference room with tables and chairs where the members could rest and feel comfortable while waiting for their rooms,” PHISGOC said.
Myanmar’s football team has said it had to wait for a long time at the airport, adding that the bus that picked them up was “not comfortable.”
Thailand, on the other hand, had to cancel their first day of training due to delays in the acquisition of the athletes’ identification cards at NAIA and heavy traffic in Metro Manila.
“While PHISGOC strives to ensure proper coordination of the arrival details, airport welcome and transportation provisions of all international teams to their respective assigned hotels, we acknowledge our shortcomings in this particular incident and vow to do better,” PHISGOC said.
It said there were 34 international arrivals on Friday, November 22, in NAIA consisting of seven sports team delegations, technical officials and representatives of the respective National Olympic Committees.
On November 23, there were 38 arrivals in NAIA and five arrivals in our Clark International Airport of SEA Games athletes, delegates and officials.
“While we are pleased to report that in the past two days there have been 75 international arrivals, consisting of various sports team delegations, technical officials and representatives of the respective National Olympic Committees, that have gone off without a hitch, the incident with the two teams remain a constant reminder for us as organizers to be more diligent,” PHISGOC said.
“We owe it to our guests and our countrymen,” it added.