‘No vaccine, no participation’ in Hanoi SEA Games

National athletes and coaches bound to compete in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi later this year are now required to be inoculated after the Vietnamese organization imposed a “no vaccine, no participation” policy.

The Vietnam SEA Games Organizing Committee announced the development during an online SEA Games Federation meeting on Tuesday where Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino attended.

Tolentino, also the cycling chief, said that the organizers assured the games from November 21 to December 2 will push through as planned but made it clear that participants have to get their vaccine jabs.

“Their policy (no vaccine, no participation policy) is for the good of everyone,” said Tolentino in a statement.

“Most of the athletes from our Southeast Asian counterparts are already vaccinated and we’re the only country that is left behind. But we already wrote the IATF to prioritize the SEA Games-bound delegates. We’re ready to take any vaccine [brand].”

POC eyes to send 626 athletes to the regional biennial meet where the Philippines emerged victorious in 2019 with 149 gold medals, 117 silver, and 121 bronze.

Tolentino added that they have already given notice to all participating national sports associations (NSAs)  in order to identify athletes who will be in line for the vaccine drive.

“Before we fly to Vietnam, everyone should be vaccinated,” Tolentino said. “Or better yet, before the NSAs start training their athletes face-to-face,” the longtime sports official said.

A financial grant of $40,000 (P1.9 million), according to Tolentino, was given by the Olympic Council of Asia for the purchase of vaccines.

As of posting, only Tokyo Olympics-bound athletes Eumir Felix Marcial of boxing and Hidilyn Diaz of weightlifting have already received their doses of COVID-19 vaccine. —Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News