New rule adopted in awarding of medals

The SEA GAMES Federation Council Friday announced a new rule for the Philippine hosting of the 30th South East Asian Games which unfolds today at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

SEA Games Executive Committee chairman Celso Dayrit said that upon the initiative of SEA Games Federation and Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, a bronze medal will be awarded even if there are only three countries entered in an event.

“The current rule is, if for instance in boxing, only 3 countries are entered in a certain weight category, only a gold and a silver medal are to be awarded. The third placer gets nothing”, said Dayrit.

Tolentino had emphasized that the Games are supposed to be “about the athletes. So why penalize an athlete who sacrifices, trains and participates, places third and is deprived of a medal because other countries withdrew at the last minute? That’s not his fault”.

With support from all the member countries, the exemption from the current rule was sponsored by Prof.Charoen Watanasim of Thailand and approved unanimously.