ABS-CBN may air 2011 SEAG: Loyzaga

source: abs-cbnnews.com

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) may tap ABS-CBN to televise the 2011 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG), which will take place in Palembang, Jakarta, Indonesia in November.

In a Philboxing.com report, PSC Commissioner Chito Loyzaga said talks will be held with the POC for ABS-CBN to cover selected SEAG events for Filipinos to watch back home.

“I, actually, had initial talks with our friends from ABS-CBN for this purpose and we have relayed the network’s intention to POC secretary general Steve Hontiveros,” Loyzaga said.

“Steve, for his part, told me that we in the PSC and POC will meet with our counterparts from the televisison station to discuss things out,” Loyzaga added. “So, I guess, after that meeting or series of meetings, we’ll have to make representation with the Games Organizing Committee in Indonesia as to how televisison coverage of the Games will be made possible.”

It will be the first coverage of its kind since the 2007 SEAG in Thailand.

“Yes, ngayon lamang mangyayari ito sa loob ng mahabang panahon. Kung matutuloy, matutuwa na ang mga kababayan natin na sa wakas ay mapapanood na nila ang ating mga kababayan na makipagsagupaan sa ating mga kalaban dito sa Southeast Asia,” Loyzaga said.

Athletes training

Meanwhile, Loyzaga assured that the athletes who will be competing in this year’s SEAG are training well.

“Our athletes naman have been continuously training and preparing themselves at we have been monitoring their training through a cluster group formed for that purpose,” he said.

Loyzaga, meanwhile, shrugged off reports claiming that there were no criteria set in the selection of the athletes.

“Mabuti nga 800 lang yung lumabas sa ilang diyaryo. Eh me balita pa nga ako more than a thousand ang ipadadala natin,” he said.

“There’s no such thing. Not that big. Dapat maging realistic tayo, practical,” he added.