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MANILA, Dec. 11-- The 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games closed here on Wednesday evening after 11 competition days. Salvador Medialdea, the Executive Secretary of the Philippines, declared the conclusion of the regional biennial multi-sport gala at a compact and neat closing ceremony held at New Clark City Sports Complex in the evening. "We celebrate today as the overall champion of the 30th SEA Games but we also celebrate with all the athletes," said Alan Peter Cayetano, the chairperson of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee at the ceremony. At his speaking, he said the Philippine government will build a national high school in New Clark City for sports that will give full scholarships to Filipino athletes, stressing that the Philippines will make full use of facilities to bid for the hosting right of 2030 Asian Games. "We have 10 years to prepare," he added. The best athletes prizes in this year's SEA Games were also awarded at the ceremony. Quah Zheng Wen of Singapore swimming team topped in the male's category with six golds and two silvers, while the Vietnamese Nguyen Thi Anh Vien, who also attained six golds and two silvers in swimming events, was awarded as the best female athlete. The Games, one of the biggest ever editions since its inauguration in 1959, drew a total of over 8,000 athletes from 11 countries to see action in 39 venues across Metro Manila, Subic, New Clark City, Angeles, among other cities on the country's main Luzon island. | 
