Southeast Asia umaangat na

MANILA, Philippines — Kayang-kaya ng Southeast Asia na magtaguyod ng mga world-class competitions gaya ng mga world championships o maging ng Olympic Games.

Ibinahagi ni Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio ang magandang mensahe sa 8th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Sports na ginanap sa Hanoi, Vietnam.

Ilan sa mga tinukoy ni Gregorio ang pagdaraos ng FIFA World Cup, World Games o maging ng Olympic Games sa Southeast Asia.

Magagawa ito kung magsasanib-puwersa ang mga Southeast Asian countries.

“There is potential and power for all of us to tap. In fact, I imagine, to further showcase our collective strength in sports tourism, the time will come for us to join forces for a future bid to host world sporting events together: whether that’s the FIFA World Cup, the World Games, or one day, the Olympic Games,” ani Gregorio.

Sinabi ni Gregorio ang kahalagahan ng mga sports tourism kabilang na ang pagdaraos ng malalaking world-class events sa rehiyon ? sa Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei, Timor Leste, Laos, Vietnam at Pilipinas.

“I personally and wholeheartedly support the inclusion of sports tourism as a key priority area especially in the Southeast Asian region, which is now emerging as a sports hub globally,” ani Gregorio.

Nagawa na ng ibang Asian countries ang pagho-host ng Olympic Games ? ang Japan (1964 at 2020) South Korea (1988) at China (2008).

Subalit wala pang Southeast Asian country ang nakapaghost ng Summer Games.

Maaari itong maisakatuparan gaya ng ginawa ng Japan at South Korea na naging mag-co-host sa 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Nagawa rin ito ng Phipippines, Japan at Indonesia sa 2023 FIBA World Cup.

“We must aspire to inspire. It’s about time. And why not One Asean. One Olympic dream. One Olympic flame,” ani Gregorio.

Kamakailan lang ay nag-host ang Pilipinas ng FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships habang sa Thailand naman ginanap ang FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championships.

Idaraos pa sa Pilipinas ang World Surf League Qualifying Series 6000 and 4000 sa Siargao sa Oktubre 24 hanggang 31 at sa Baler, Quezon sa Nobyembre 17 hanggang 23.

Mayroon pang Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships sa Nobyembre 20 hanggang 24 sa Manila at ang FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup sa Nobyembre 21 hanggang Disyembre 7.

“I strongly agree with Brunei Minister on Culture, Youth and Sports Nazmi Mohamad that we as a region must establish Asean-branded sports events,” ani Gregorio.