SEA Games adopts ‘passport-only’ requirement but with special conditions

August 31 ------ The 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand will strictly enforce a “passport-only” rule for all events. According to Team Philippines chef de mission Dr. Jose Canlas, this was clarified during a meeting among the chefs de mission of the 11 participating countries, where it was agreed that an athlete’s eligibility will be based solely on the passport of the nation they are representing.

To avoid issues similar to those that arose two years ago in Cambodia, athletes must use that same passport to enter and exit Thailand, added Dr. Canlas, who also serves as the chief of the United Philippine Surfing Association. This means dual passport holders can only use the passport of the country they are representing when traveling to Thailand. With this rule, Gilas Pilipinas Men can field both Justin Brownlee and Angelo Kouame in the tournament. La Salle standout Mike Phillips, who is eyeing his second SEA Games gold medal, is also eligible to compete.

Other players expressing interest in suiting up for Gilas in the biennial meet include Remy Martin and Kihei Clark. The technical handbook for the 33rd SEA Games basketball tournament initially stated that the Games would adhere to FIBA rules: “A national team participating in a competition may have only players on its team who have acquired the legal nationality of that country by naturalization or by any other means before having reached the age of sixteen (16), regardless of where the additional nationality acquired is deemed effective at birth. “This provision applies also to any player having the right to acquire another nationality at birth but who did not lay claim to this right before having reached the age of sixteen (16).”

However, it has since been clarified that the “passport-only” rule will prevail. The 33rd SEA Games will run from December 9 to 20, with the Philippines aiming to capture its 20th gold medal in the event.

Source: manilatimes.net