British newspapers simultaneously reported on the messy preparation stage, the scene of the player sleeping on the floor, not eating enough when attending the 30th SEA Games.

"The 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) began a troubled start in the Philippines" is the title of the article by correspondent Howard Johnson published on the BBC today.

Johnson said he applied for an event card two months ago but has yet to receive a business card. After several days of waiting, he received an explanation that the issue of the card was delayed due to "printing problems" and the temporary card was valid for two days.

When visiting Rizal Memorial Stadium yesterday, Johnson realized everything was still like a sprawling construction site, as workers were still hurriedly grafting carpets along the corridor leading from the player's locker room to the pitch. The signboard saying "Changing Room" was printed on A4 paper on the wall, inside the room were wires still hanging from the ceiling, while plastered cement on the wall was still wet.

The British Daily Mail also said that the organization of the SEA Games 30 "was in turmoil" even just a few days before the opening ceremony. The time before the event was disturbed by reports of athletes waiting at the airport, not having enough food and sleeping on the floor because there was not enough room.

Another British newspaper, the Guardian, reported that Cambodian U22 players had to sleep on the functional room floor and the seats of the Century Park Hotel in Manila because they arrived earlier than the check-in time and the hotel was not available at the time. Century Park Hotel made an announcement that because players arrived earlier than expected, it was impossible even if they wanted to provide accommodation.

Thai athletes complained they did not have enough rooms, forcing the three athletes to sleep in a room for two.

In the first match before the opening ceremony between Myanmar and Malaysia at Rizal Memorial Stadium, the two teams competed without a scoreboard. East Timor and Myanmar football teams are also forced to wait at the airport for hours before the bus takes them to training.

Meanwhile, some Muslim athletes said a shortage of halal food (food accepted under Islamic law) caused them to starve. Philippine National Committee official for Muslims Ramadan Aguan said they had reminded the organizers about this, but received no response.

"We have some problems because the SEA Games organizers cannot provide halal food," Aguan told the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post. "We have repeated it many times but we don't know why they didn't pay attention."

The Vietnamese women's football team also asked the hotel to increase the rations because the current serving is too few and does not have the necessary nutrients. However, the hotel responded that they had to make a recommendation to the organizers if they wanted a fuller meal.

Coconuts Manila reported that construction workers even installed two toilets in the same toilet, an act that made foreign media think the organizers were not serious about SEA Games logistics.

Even the Filipino women's soccer team complained about not having enough food and water at their hotel. In a press conference, coach Let Dimzon said the quality and quantity of food is insufficient and lack of nutrients that athletes need. The players were forced to sleep 4-5 people in a double room.

"It's sad that we are the home team and this is how we are treated," defender Hali Long said. "I cannot imagine how other countries must feel."

SEA Games 30 Committee Chairman Alan Cayetano apologized for the "inconvenience" affecting athletes. "We apologize for the inconvenience or I may call it ineffectiveness or mistake," Cayetano said. However, despite the controversy surrounding logistics, Cayento said 95% of the athletes felt "satisfied".

SEA Games 30 takes place from November 30 to December 11, particularly matches of men's football took place a few days before. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was angry when he received reports about the logistics of the SEA Games. The Presidential Palace called on the organizers to ensure logistics for athletes to compete peacefully.