Top brass from the different countries forming the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games are contemplating making the regional sports event a quadrennial affair.

The National Olympic Committees (NOC) are not only thinking of tinkering with the timetable, but they are also looking at adopting the events according to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

“It is according to the wishes of the OCA to have the SEA Games held every four years,” Steve Hontiveros said.

“It could even save on cost in training athletes and improve the level of competition in the SEA Games,” the Philippine Olympic Committee secretary-general added.

The SEA Games, which was formed in 1959, is held every two years with the 11 member-countries alternating as hosts.

A meeting among the different NOC leaders is set from April 21 to 25 in Laos, where the number of sports events to be held in the 2009 SEA Games will essentially be discussed. Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr. will reportedly lead the RP delegation.

Laos will host the 2009 SEA Games, its first time.

Also in the agenda is the possible modification of the SEA Games charter, which includes the change from a two-year cycle to a four-year rotation.

Laos, which is populated by only six million people, is reportedly having a difficult time raising the $80 million needed to finance the construction of a new 20,000-seater stadium.

Laos has said it wants to reduce the number of sports to 25. Thailand, which hosted the 2007 Games, played 43 sports en route to the overall championship.

“These changes may have its drawback, but we’re looking at some possibilities and solutions before the federation would introduce big changes,” Hontiveros said.

The SEA Games Federation used to have 11 members with 10 countries taking turns in hosting the event.

Since its admission to the SEA Games Federation in 1977, the Philippines took its turn to host the event in 1981 and ’91, before it hosted the Games the last time in 2005, when it emerged as overall champion for the very first time.

Twelve countries now form the SEA Games Federation since the inclusion of East Timor into the group in 2003.

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Top brass from the different countries forming the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games are contemplating making the regional sports event a quadrennial affair.

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