The Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee expressed its sincerest apologies to the Men’s Football National Team’s of Timor-Leste, Myanmar, and Cambodia after causing inconvenience in their first 24 hours here in the country.
“We sincerely apologize to our athlete guests from Timor-Leste, Myanmar, and Cambodia for the inconvenience caused to them by the confusion regarding their transportation and hotel arrangements.
“While PHISGOC strives to ensure proper coordination of the arrival details, airport welcome and transportation provisions of all international teams to their respective assigned hotels, we acknowledge our shortcomings in this particular incident and vow to do better,” their statement read.
A post on Facebook page ASEAN Football News showed Cambodia’s national team sleeping on the floor of a conference hall as their rooms in Century Park hotel weren’t “ready yet”.
Myanmar and Timor Leste waited for a long time at the airport before being “cramped” in an e-jeep.
“For the information of the public, the confusion with the Timor-Leste football team happened when some of their members were initially brought to the Century Hotel along with the rest of the team. However, the Timor-Leste coordinator pointed out that some were actually billeted at the nearby Hotel Jen. PHISGOC was able to arrange the delegates’ shuttle to the other hotel,” the statement said about what happened to Timor-Leste.
“As to the Cambodian football team, their change in arrival details was relayed late to the PHISGOC Games Services Department. Instead of the arrival time initially relayed to PHISGOC, the Cambodian team arrived in NAIA at 4AM. Transportation was immediately provided, but since their hotel rooms were not yet available because the standard check-in time is 2PM, PHISGOC requested that the team be allowed to wait at an air-conditioned private hotel conference room with tables and chairs where the members could rest and feel comfortable while waiting for their rooms,” it added about Cambodia.
Outside of the problems in Football, PHISGOC assured that things are running smoothly everywhere else.
“While we are pleased to report that in the past two days there have been 75 international arrivals, consisting of various sports team delegations, technical officials and representatives of the respective National Olympic Committees, that have gone off without a hitch, the incident with the two teams remain a constant reminder for us as organizers to be more diligent. We owe it to our guests and our countrymen.”
