MANILA - The Philippines is beefing up security arrangements for athletes who will be participating in the 30th edition of the South-east Asian Games next month to ward off attacks, possibly from Muslim extremists.
Security officials are deploying close to 20,000 policemen, soldiers, first responders and traffic enforcers to secure the around 10,000 athletes from 11 countries and their support staff.He said the government has so far not come across any plot by militants or any terrorist organisation to disrupt the biennial sporting event, set for Nov 30 to Dec 11.
Mr Lorenzana said security would be"very tight" around venues where the events would be held and where the athletes would be practising.He said more than 120 athletes and coaches from the Philippines are themselves soldiers who are trained to deal with any threat. Brigadier-General Debol Sinas said in a news briefing last week that security forces would be placed on"heightened alert" two days before the Games begin.But the main venues for the events will be in Metro Manila and at the 9,500ha New Clark City sports complex, 100km north of the capital.
Organisers are reportedly still grappling with uncompleted facilities and tech problems less than three weeks before the Games begin.It already takes roughly two hours to commute around the capital.
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