Malaysia hands over SEA Games flame to Philippines

Date: October 12, 2019

PREPARATIONS for the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games just got brighter after Malaysia officially handed the SEA Games flame to the Philippines last Oct. 3 at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur where the cauldron of the previous edition of the regional sports showcase was also lit.

Olympiad Council of Malaysia President Norza Zakaria presented the flame in a ceremonial lighting of a lantern before handing it over to Philippine Olympic Committee board member Cynthia Carrion, who heads the POC Women in Sports Committee.

Witnessing the symbolic were Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee Chief Operatin Officer Ramon “Tats” Suzara, Philippine Sports Commissioner Celia Kiram, triathlete Nikko Huelgas, president of the Philippine Athletes Commission, taekwondo jin Pauline Louise Lopez and Malaysian Sports Minister Syed Saddig Syed Abdul Rahman.

“As we receive the flame from Malaysia, we also receive the responsibilities that comes with hosting the flame in our country,” said Kiram on behalf of the PH contingent and PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, who also serves as chef de mission of Team Philippines.

“Malaysia hosted one of the best SEAG editions, and we will do our best and try to be at par with them in hosting these Games”

“As the host of the 30th edition of the SEA Games, we gladly receive this flame for the Philippines from the previous host Malaysia,” noted Carrion, who is also the president of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines.

“This flame symbolizes the spirit of the SEA Games and this handover signifies an exchange of ideas, goodwill and genuine friendship,” stressed Suzara.

The lantern carrying the SEA Games flame was brought to Manila last Oct. 3 to kick off a series of torch runs that will be held in Davao City, Cebu City before finally winding up in Clark.

It will also be presented to the House of Representatives, the Senate and to President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacanang.

One of the sidelights of the turnover was Malaysian SEA Games mascot Rimau meeting his PH counterpart, Pami.

Eleven nations - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam - will see action on Nov. 30-Dec. 11 in the meet with 56 sports spread out over four main venue clusters in Clark, Subic, Manila and Tagaytay.

The 30th SEA Games hosting is supported by: Platinum sponsors - Ajinomoto, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, MG Cars, Philippine Airlines, Skyworth and CooCaa. Gold Sponsors - MasterCard, Milo, Pocari Sweat, NLEX, PInco and Rzaer. Preferred - Asics, SM Lifestyle Inc. and BMW. Prestige - Molten and Mikasa. Banking Partners - Chinabank and PNB. Media Partners - Bombo Radyo, Star FM and the Inquirer Group, CNN, United Neon and DOOH. Host Broadcaster- NEP. Official Broadcaster - Sports and Action, TV 5, Cignal, ESPN and PTV 4.