MVP to make strong push in FIBA bid

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines faces formidable opposition in bidding for the 2019 World Cup but SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan is determined to make a strong push for the right to host the historic 18th tournament that will welcome the largest-ever field of 32 teams since its inception in 1950.

Pangilinan is a member of the 26-strong FIBA Central Board that will deliberate on the offers of six countries and decide on the winning bid during a meeting on June 18-19 in Geneva. A Philippine delegation attended a two-day bid workshop conducted by FIBA in Mies, a Swiss village about a 10-minute drive from Geneva international airport, last week and will brief Pangilinan on details of the tender process in Manila today.

The Philippine delegation was made up of PBA chairman Patrick Gregorio, SBP executive director Sonny Barrios, Tourism Promotions Board chief operating officer Sean Nicholls, SBP deputy executive director for external affairs Butch Antonio, Octagon Asia-Pacific president Sean Nicholls and logistics consultant Andrew Teh. Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein Leslie Baja motored from Berne to join the delegation on the first day of the workshop.

The Philippines was the first to express intent to host the 2019 conclave with Pangilinan announcing a “serious” bid last July “to show the world the Filipino can, that we’re capable of staging a complex global event and (for) the world to know who we are as a people – our values, culture and music.” Other countries represented in the FIBA workshop were China, France, Germany, Qatar and Turkey.

To signify its participation in the tender process, the Philippines paid a bid fee of 50,000 Eu the Philippine Arena, Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Mall of Asia Arena and two more expected to be finished by 2018, the Solaire Stadium and the SM Cebu Arena.

Among the FIBA officials who met the Philippine delegation during the plenary group and country-specific workshop sessions were president Horacio Muratore of Argentina, director-general for media and marketing services Frank Leenders of the Netherlands, director of communications Patrick Koller of Switzerland, director of TV/new media rights Paul Stimpson of England and director of events Predrag Bogosavljev of Serbia.

“We were impressed by FIBA’s professionalism and preparedness in conducting the workshop,” said Gregorio. “We covered every possible detail involving the event from TV to communications to operations to logistics to venue management to tournament format. I think we were able to project not only the seriousness of our bid but also our capability to stage the event with a concerted effort. We had the largest delegation and each of our delegates came with a designated purpose.”

Gregorio said Enerio’s participation sent a clear signal that the national government would support the bid as a sports tourism project. A highlight of the workshop was FIBA’s disclosure

of the findings of a study conducted by the London-based audit, consulting and research firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd. The study quantified the domestic and global impact of the recent World Cup in Spain.

“We were surprised that Deloitte even captured how many Filipinos watched our game against Senegal at the World Cup,” said Gregorio. “Deloitte noted that 63 percent of Filipinos watching TV were tuned in to the game. FIBA was impressed by Ambassador Baja’s presence particularly as a key discussion point was the importance of government as a partner in the hosting effort.” the Philippine Arena, Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Mall of Asia Arena and two more expected to be finished by 2018, the Solaire Stadium and the SM Cebu Arena.

Among the FIBA officials who met the Philippine delegation during the plenary group and country-specific workshop sessions were president Horacio Muratore of Argentina, director-general for media and marketing services Frank Leenders of the Netherlands, director of communications Patrick Koller of Switzerland, director of TV/new media rights Paul Stimpson of England and director of events Predrag Bogosavljev of Serbia.

“We were impressed by FIBA’s professionalism and preparedness in conducting the workshop,” said Gregorio. “We covered every possible detail involving the event from TV to communications to operations to logistics to venue management to tournament format. I think we were able to project not only the seriousness of our bid but also our capability to stage the event with a concerted effort. We had the largest delegation and each of our delegates came with a designated purpose.”

Gregorio said Enerio’s participation sent a clear signal that the national government would support the bid as a sports tourism project. A highlight of the workshop was FIBA’s disclosure

of the findings of a study conducted by the London-based audit, consulting and research firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd. The study quantified the domestic and global impact of the recent World Cup in Spain.

“We were surprised that Deloitte even captured how many Filipinos watched our game against Senegal at the World Cup,” said Gregorio. “Deloitte noted that 63 percent of Filipinos watching TV were tuned in to the game. FIBA was impressed by Ambassador Baja’s presence particularly as a key discussion point was the importance of government as a partner in the hosting effort.” ros or the equivalent of P2.9 Million to FIBA. The bidding for the hosting rights will begin at 8 million Euros or P460 Million. It is estimated that a budget of P1.5 Billion will be required for the Philippines to stage the next World Cup in five venues. Lined up are the Philippine Arena, Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Mall of Asia Arena and two more expected to be finished by 2018, the Solaire Stadium and the SM Cebu Arena.

Among the FIBA officials who met the Philippine delegation during the plenary group and country-specific workshop sessions were president Horacio Muratore of Argentina, director-general for media and marketing services Frank Leenders of the Netherlands, director of communications Patrick Koller of Switzerland, director of TV/new media rights Paul Stimpson of England and director of events Predrag Bogosavljev of Serbia.

“We were impressed by FIBA’s professionalism and preparedness in conducting the workshop,” said Gregorio. “We covered every possible detail involving the event from TV to communications to operations to logistics to venue management to tournament format. I think we were able to project not only the seriousness of our bid but also our capability to stage the event with a concerted effort. We had the largest delegation and each of our delegates came with a designated purpose.”

Gregorio said Enerio’s participation sent a clear signal that the national government would support the bid as a sports tourism project. A highlight of the workshop was FIBA’s disclosure

of the findings of a study conducted by the London-based audit, consulting and research firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd. The study quantified the domestic and global impact of the recent World Cup in Spain.

“We were surprised that Deloitte even captured how many Filipinos watched our game against Senegal at the World Cup,” said Gregorio. “Deloitte noted that 63 percent of Filipinos watching TV were tuned in to the game. FIBA was impressed by Ambassador Baja’s presence particularly as a key discussion point was the importance of government as a partner in the hosting effort.”

Gregorio said the SBP will consult Reps. Robbie Puno and Yeng Guiao on a joint private and public sector undertaking. “From a logistical viewpoint, we will treat the World Cup like an APEC meeting,” he said. “There will be 32 countries involved, including seven from Asia-Oceania. We’ve got five years to get ready and if we divide our budget of P1.5 Billion, it will come out to P300 Million a year which is less expensive than hosting a Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather fight. However, we’ll vote in a new president and a new administration in 2016 so it’s critical to get a commitment from government for 2019. Do we do it through legislation? Obviously, we must strategize how to firm up our bid. It’s not just about the money, it’s about providing the world’s best basketball players an experience of a lifetime, a legacy that is fueled by a nation’s passion for the game.”

Gregorio said he expects a tough challenge from China. Germany and France are making a joint bid. Turkey hosted in 2010 so it may not be a viable candidate so soon. Qatar is hosting

the FIFA World Cup in 2022 so it may be preoccupied with that project. In 17 FIBA World Championships so far, South America has hosted seven – Argentina in 1950 and 1990, Brazil in 1954 and 1963, Chile in 1959, Uruguay in 1967 and Chile in 1982. Europe has hosted five – Yugoslavia in 1970, Spain in 1986 and 2014, Greece in 1998 and Turkey in 2010. North America has hosted three – Puerto Rico in 1974, Canada in 1994 and the US in 2002. Asia has hosted twice – Manila in 1978 and Saitama, Japan, in 2006.

“It’s possible that FIBA may consider the joint Germany-France bid in 2023 since Europe has hosted the last two World Cups,” said Gregorio. “FIBA may choose from among the six countries the hosts for 2019 and 2023. For our part, we will prove our capability beyond doubt in all aspects – financial, logistical and everything else. We will show our country’s love and passion for the game like no other.”