MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping†Cojuangco Jr., Philippine Sports Commissioner Buddy Andrada and International Triathlon Union sports director Gergely Markus head the guests on the first day of action in the K-Swiss Subic Bay ASTC Asian Triathlon Championship at the Subic Bay Freeport today.
Asian Triathlon Confederation (ASTC) president Yu Kung Sun, secretary general Balwant Singh Kler, vice president Masao Nakayama and treasurer David Hoong and other board members have also been invited to grace the event.
Meanwhile, Harbor Point Ayala Mall, SM Cares and Garmin have signed in as sponsors of the three-day event integrating age-group races on the second day, and para-triathlon and mixed relay on the third day.
K-Swiss tops the other backers, which include Standard Insurance, Century Tuna, Speedo, David’s Salon, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines (ACIP), Gatorade, Fitness First, Garmin, Canon, PLDT, Harbor Point Ayala Mall, SM Cares Subic and PSC.
Yu, ASTC’s top man since 2003, presided over the ASTC board meeting and congress at the Lighthouse Marina Resort. Markus briefed the body on the plans and projects of the ITU worldwide while Kler reported on Asian triathlon.
ASTC senior vice president and representative to the ITU executive board Tom Carrasco, also president of the organizing Triathlon Association of the Philippines and POC chairman, said, “We are elated with the turnout of elite athletes for the championship and the country representatives – the biggest ever in ASTC congress.â€