SNOC urges SEAGF to address technical problems that disrupted athletics finals
BANGKOK — The Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) has asked the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) to investigate technical glitches reported during the evening session of Friday’s athletics final events.
In a letter from SNOC secretary-general Mark Chay to SEAGF, obtained by CNA, Chay conveyed a finding of “grave concern” over what was described as a “timing system failure.”
According to SNOC, the incident affected the session in which Singaporean athletes Kerstin Ong and Ang Chen Xiang achieved personal bests and set national records in the women’s and men’s 110m hurdles, respectively.
SNOC indicated that the records themselves will not be recognized due to the issue.
A SNOC spokesperson told CNA that Asian Athletics had informed them that “timing-system technical issues” compromised the statistical integrity of that session’s results. While the athletes’ placements remain valid, the exact timings cannot be acknowledged for statistical purposes.
SNOC said this is regrettable and has escalated the matter to SEAGF to safeguard standards at the Games.
In his letter, Chay described the matter as a “grave concern,” noting that it impeded the ability to account for results in terms of statistics such as records, qualifications for major events, and world rankings.
Although it was acknowledged that the athletes were correctly placed, the failure to validate timing data undermines the competition’s integrity and the athletes’ dedicated efforts. The incident also raises questions about the reliability and readiness of the chosen timing provider.
Consequently, SNOC has requested an official SEAGF statement that clarifies the situation, details the corrective steps being taken, and reaffirms the Federation’s commitment to fair and precise competition standards.
Chay also urged SEAGF to offer clear guidance to the national Olympic committees on how the incident will affect athletes, particularly regarding qualification for major events, recognition of records, and world rankings.
SEAGF should ensure accountability for the timing company responsible and implement immediate measures to resolve the issue for remaining sessions. He also called for a review and tightening of technical protocols to prevent similar problems in future Games editions.
Chay asserted that addressing such technical failures with urgency is essential to avoid further disruptions in upcoming sessions and to maintain the high standards expected of the SEA Games.
He emphasized that the SEA Games celebrate sport, dedication, and competitive excellence, and that preserving the event’s credibility is crucial. SNOC believes SEAGF will respond promptly and provide assurances to all participating NOCs.
CNA has reached out to SEAGF for comment.
