For major sporting events that
will draw in competition from around the world, or at least the neighboring
nations like the region-based Southeast Asian Games, it is expected that access
to the games involved will require spectators to purchase tickets for seating
in the stadium or arena. This is particularly important particularly for the
2019 SEA Games being hosted by the Philippines, as many of the facilities are
either refurbished or newly built for the occasion. Nevertheless, there are
still quarters of would-be watchers who are interested in getting game tickets
without having to pay for them. After a few days of dithering on the issue, a
reply was given.
According to ABS-CBN News, there will be tickets to the 30th
Southeast Asian Games that will be distributed for free, with these tickets
being taken from batches that have yet to be sold. This news was shared on Friday,
November 29, by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano. "Upon instructions of
the President, to make sure that all Filipinos who want to watch live and can
be physically present at the Games, the organizing committee has decided that
all games that have not sold out their tickets will be opened, for free,” said
Cayetano, who is also head of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee
(PHISGOC).
Going into specifics, Speaker
Cayetano explained that certain event sports such as basketball,
football/soccer, and volleyball, will be strictly exempted from the new free
tickets policy. Only sports that still have unsold tickets will be considered
for having batches being given free. Thankfully, a handful of events are
non-ticketed – golf, squash and lawn ball – allowing for anyone interested to
watch them at their respective venues. Meanwhile SEA Games spectators who have
already bought tickets for events now made free, will receive no refunds but be
given free treats upon attendance.
As late as Thursday, November 28,
President Rodrigo Duterte had not given any opinion on whether or not Southeast
Asian Games tickets are to be given free for those interested audience that
could not afford them. He did express his desire to have as many Filipinos
watch the games in support of the nation’s participating athletes. Free tickets
will be distributed for free at certain state universities according to Speaker
Cayetano. Others will go to LGUs of the various locations where SEA Games
events will be held. The closing ceremony on December 11 will have 10,000 free tickets
made available first-come, first-served on SM Tickets.
Normal ticket rates for the SEA
Games are priced depending on the popularity of the event, with entrance rates
for some at P50 while others can go up to P900. The opening ceremony tomorrow
has the most expensive rates, ranging from P1,000 for general admission to
P12,000 for “Patron A.”
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