MANILA (UPDATE)—President Rodrigo Duterte apologized on Thursday for problems foreign athletes experienced in the Philippines' hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games, saying the "discomfort" of delegates cannot be discounted.

Duterte said organizers of the Games cannot simply brush aside complaints of the athletes, which is why he promised an investigation into supposed anomalies after the regional meet.

"I’m really apologizing for the country. They (foreign athletes) have to know that the government is not happy with it and the President of the country where they are playing ordered an investigation," he said in an exclusive interview with CNN Philippines.

"You cannot just cast away the discomfort, the suffering of the athletes. This might really be a small matter, but you cannot just flick a finger na 'ah maliit 'yan (that's only a small thing)'," he added.

• Palace to probe SEA Games hosting mess

It was a rough start for Manila's hosting of the Games as reports of unfinished venues, inadequate food supply, transportation woes, and accommodation issues made international headlines.

• 'It's terrible': How foreign press is reporting SEA Games hosting mess

Duterte explained that such issues are a "big deal" for countries participating in the SEA Games as he warned that it would cost the Philippines since a poor hosting would leave a bad impression of the country.

"To countries that sent them here, it's a big deal...Mabigat 'yun, you invite countries to send athletes tapos ganoon mangyari," he said.

(That's a big deal. You invite countries to send athletes and then problems happen.)

"It would cost us because when they (foreign athletes) go back, they would start to talk about it," he added.

Duterte on Thursday also urged Filipinos to refrain from creating a "firestorm" on issues concerning the Games as the Philippines gears up for its opening on Saturday.

"If you're a reasonable man, of which I am calling everybody upon, do not create a firestorm now because we are in the thick of preparations.," he told reporters in Malacañang on Thursday.

"Let us investigate after and I assure you, I will investigate," he added.

TIGHT SECURITY

This year's Games in Clark, Manila and Subic, which run through to Dec. 11, are particularly complex with a record 56 sports across dozens of venues that are in some cases hours' drive apart, even before Manila's notorious gridlock traffic is factored in.

The vast scale of the multi-sport event has included erecting a sports complex in New Clark City, which is at least 2 hours' drive north from the capital.

The Philippines' path towards Saturday's opening ceremony—an all-singing, all-dancing celebration of the island nation—has been tortuous from the start.

Manila in July 2017 suddenly pulled out of hosting the Games to focus on rebuilding the southern city of Marawi, which was heavily damaged during siege by jihadists.

But officials made a U-turn just a month later after securing backing from Duterte.

Security remains a top concern, and police have increased visibility at night spots near competition venues and suspended Filipinos' right to carry firearms outside their homes.

HOME ADVANTAGE

The Philippines, which last hosted the biennial games in 2005, is aiming to win the most medals, and history is on its side: 7 of the last 11 SEA Games hosts have topped the table, reflecting the tradition of rewriting the sporting program to suit local strengths.

Malaysia topped the table 2 years ago with home advantage in Kuala Lumpur, ahead of Thailand and Vietnam, with the Philippines in sixth place.

Around 8,750 athletes and team officials are expected at this year's edition, and there are some 12,000 volunteers. Organizers hope more than 500 million viewers will tune in on TV.

In an eclectic program, Olympic sports like swimming and athletics sit side-by-side with regional favorites like martial arts pencak silat, arnis and wushu, and this year athletes will even battle an obstacle race course in Manila.

Medals will be awarded in eSports—a first for a multi-sport competition sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee, after the discipline featured as a demonstration sport at last year's Asian Games in Jakarta.

Southeast Asia nations rarely shine at the Olympics, but the region's 2 gold medallists from Rio 2016—Singaporean swimmer Joseph Schooling and Vietnamese shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh—are among the athletes competing in the Philippines.—With a report from James Edgar, Agence France-Presse