SEA Games tickets now for free except for three events – PHISGOC

MANILA, Philippines – Organizers of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games announced on Friday that tickets for most of the sporting events will now be given for free.
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, who heads the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), said tickets for 53 sporting events that have yet to be sold will be given away.
Cayetano said the organizers’ move is upon the instruction of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“To make sure that all Filipinos who want to watch live and can be physically present sa Games, the organizing committee has decided that all games na hindi pa sold out yung tickets at i-o-open na po, libre na,” Cayetano told reporters.
Duterte on Thursday said the decision on whether to make SEA Games events accessible to the public lies with the organizing committee.
He, however, said that if it were up to him, he would open all events for Filipinos who want to watch and support the country’s athletes participating in the biennial meet.
Cayetano said sports without tickets, including lawn ball, golf and quash will also be open to the public.
However, tickets for basketball, volleyball, and football matches will not be included to the free admission scheme as these are already sold out. The said sporting events will be held in Mall of Asia Arena, PhilSports Arena, Rizal Memorial Stadium and Biñan Football Stadium.
For those who already purchased tickets for the events that are now free will receive treats instead of a refund, PHISGOC chief operating officer Ramon Suzara said.
“We’ll put them in the best location because they bought the tickets already,” he said.
Suzara said those interested to watch the free SEA Games events may get tickets from their respective local governments.
He also reminded spectators to follow security procedures in sporting venues.
In addition, 10,000 free tickets will also be provided for the closing ceremony of the SEA Games which will be held on Dec. 11 at the New Clark City, Tarlac.