Philippines refuses to host SEA Games 2019

The Philippine government wants to focus national resources on rebuilding a city after two months of fighting with Muslim rebels.

The decision to resign as host of the 30th SEA Games in 2019 was just approved by the Philippines after a series of meetings between President Rodrigo Duterte and the country's sports officials.

"National resources will be focused on rebuilding Marawi City, instead of spending on hosting the SEA Games in 2019," AFP news agency quoted Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez.

War-torn Mindanao and Marawi forced the Philippine government to devote all its resources to reconstruction. Photo: Reuters.

Over the past two months, Marawi City, the capital of Lanao del Sur province, Mindanao island, has been heavily damaged in fighting between the Philippine army and Muslim rebel gunmen.

More than 600 people are estimated to have died and much infrastructure has been left in ruins following the airstrikes. President Duterte has imposed martial law across southern Mindanao to stem the threat of violence.

The host country of the 2019 SEA Games was supposed to be Brunei, but the country withdrew in 2015, and Vietnam also refused to replace Brunei.

The Philippines then agreed to take on the responsibility of hosting the biggest sporting event in Southeast Asia. The last time the Philippines hosted a SEA Games was in 2005.

According to VNE