SEAG Federation gives Vietnam until October to decide fate of 31st SEA Games

Vietnam has until October to decide whether it will push through with the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in 2022 or outright cancel the biennial meet.

Philippine Olympic Committee president and Cavite Rep. Abraham 'Bambol' Tolentino said the ultimatum was reached upon by the SEAG Federation in a meeting on Friday. 

“The consensus was for Vietnam to make a decision, otherwise, the 31st SEA Games would be canceled,” Tolentino said.

If Vietnam decides to push through, the most convenient date for the Games will be May, taking into consideration the other sporting events happening in 2022.

The Beijing Winter Olympics will happen in February, while the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Thailand are slated for March.

The International Olympic Committee-sanctioned World Games will happen in July in the US, while the Huangzhou Asian Games is scheduled in September. The Asian Youth Games, meanwhile, will happen in December in Shantou, China.

“All these five competitions are major events, they are staged once every four years,” Tolentino said.

Aside from the events, Cambodia, the host for the 32nd SEAG, will hold the regional tourney in February 2023.

“And that’s the reason why Vietnam could only have until the latter part of May to host," he said.

Should Vietnam decide to cancel its hosting, Tolentino said they could host again in 2027.

Thailand will host SEAG in 2025, while Laos or Brunei has yet to confirm if they will host in 2027.

“If these two countries pull back, then Vietnam gets its turn back.”

The 31st edition of the SEAG was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News