President Ferdinand R. Marcos poses with Philippine Olympic delegation head Bambol Tolentino during the Philippine Olympic team's courtesy call at Malacanang Palace on August 13, 2024. Yummie Dingding, PPA pool

MANILA -- Preparations for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand next year and their elections in November will keep the Philippine Olympic Committee busy in the wake of the country's historic stint in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The POC held a general assembly on Wednesday in Pasay City, where they savored the triumphant campaign of Filipino athletes in Paris while also charting the course for the coming months.

"The SEA Games next year in Thailand is a concern, we're bound to lose eight gold medals in four sports dropped by the Thais from their program," POC President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino said. "But we're not losing hope, the appeal is there, and it will be decided in a SEAG Federation meeting next month."

The SEAG Federation will meet on October 15 for updates on Thailand's preparations of its hosting, with the 33rd SEA Games set for December 9 to 20, 2025, in Bangkok, Chonburi and Sonkhia.

The POC, as well as other federations, is appealing for weightlifting, wushu, jiu-jitsu and karate -- all traditional SEA Games sports -- to be included in Thailand's program.

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"It's a tough task considering that the Thais will be hard-pressed to dominate the games," said Tolentino.

Other items that were discussed by the POC were:

-- The reappointment of karate's Richard Lim as chef de mission to the Asian Winter Games from February 7 to 14 next year in Harbin, China, following the cancelation of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in Thailand this November;

-- Saudi Arabia's hosting of the canceled AIMAG in still-to-be-determined dates and specific venue in 2025;

-- Initial details of the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya from September 19 to October 4, 2026;

-- and members of the Commission on Elections for the POC elections on November 29.

Chartered Arbiter and Accredited Mediator Atty. Teodoro Kalaw IV returns as chairman of the POC electoral body after his stints in 2020 and 2024 and he will be joined by Colegio de San Juan de Letran Rector President Fr. Napoleon Encarnacion, OP, and Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Olivia "Bong" Coo as members.

The POC assembly unanimously approved the appointments.

"The COMELEC led by Atty. Kalaw will lay down the rules of the elections and they will set the deadline for the filing of candidacy and handle screening of the candidates," said Tolentino, who will seek another full four-year term as president.

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