SEA Games is considered an opportunity to express the aspiration and vision of the host country, but this year's conference seems to become a disgrace to the Philippines.

The 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in the Philippines will open on 30/11 and last until 11/12. However, the organization is causing a wave of controversy with allegations of irregularities in the budget, incomplete competition venues and poor athletes' living conditions.

This situation makes the hashtag #SEAGamesFail (SEA Games fail) becoming a trend on social networks, with a series of images of athletes sleeping on the floor or on the airport bench due to logistics errors.

According to BBC correspondent Howard Johnson, the press was not given the best conditions to work at the 30th SEA Games 30. Johnson said that he had applied for an event card two months ago, but has not yet received it. get an operation card. After arriving at a media center in Manila on November 28, Johnson received an answer that the card was delayed due to "printing problems."

Instead, the reporter was issued two temporary event cards, each for one day, while SEA Games 30 will last for two weeks. You need to go back to the center if you want more cards to cover the event.

Johnson on November 27 used either card to visit the recently renovated Rizal Memorial Stadium just before the soccer match between the Philippines and Myanmar team. Like the Olympic Games, football at the SEA Games is held before the opening ceremony.

Although the match will take place that day, Johnson said the stadium remodeling is still underway. The pitch and pitch area seemed to be fine, but in the tunnel where the players were in front of the match, the two workers were hastily cutting and spreading the red carpet. The Philippines dressing room sign is printed on A4 paper, with cardboards on the steps leading into the room.

Johnson kept moving and walked into another nearby changing room, which was undergoing repair. Power lines hung from the ceiling, while cement on the wall was still wet.

A former American colony, Filipinos have a strong passion for boxing and basketball, but are not very enthusiastic about football. In other Southeast Asian countries, however, football players are the star of the media. Therefore, the image of East Timor and Cambodia teams "struggling" because of the delay in logistics has spread throughout the region.

The scandals have displeased the Philippine government and President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to open an investigation after the end of the SEA Games. Conference organizers said the investigation also included "the spread of fake news" before the event, causing them to suffer bad reputations.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Alan Peter Cayetano, head of organizing the 30th SEA Games, apologized for "inconveniences" to the athletes, but seemed to "ignore" the media's reflection on the great preparations. chaotic guild. He said the process was hampered in part by problems in passing the national budget.

The controversy over the 30th SEA Games has been sparked by Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon complaining that spending $ 900,000 on the convention's firewalls is too wasteful. According to the opposition senator, that amount was enough to build about 56 classrooms instead of pouring into something that could only be used once.

However, the chief organizer of the SEA Games 30 Cayetano said that the radio was "a work of art", noting that Singapore had given up $ 1.2 million for it when hosting the SEA Games in 2015. Contradictions continue. continues to appear on November 27, when Drilon was accused of underwriting $ 49 million of money to organize the SEA Games to allocate to infrastructure projects in Iloilo, the senator's home town.

After visiting the Rizal Memorial Stadium, the Johnson reporter interviewed Salvador Panelo, a spokesman for President Duterte, and received an answer that athletes do not have to worry about anything.

"The check-in and delayed transportation is normal. It appears daily anywhere in the world. However, the organizers have apologized to those who have been in trouble and committed. next time will do better, "the spokesperson said, adding that some information about the preparation work is" fake news ".

Asked if SEA Games 30 had the opportunity to show the strengths of the country, as well as accurately reflect the operating situation of President Duterte, Panelo said that "not necessarily".

"The president is doing extremely well in leading the country. Some shortcomings before the congress do not reflect his ability to rule," the spokesman said.