GAGAWIN ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) ang lahat para matiyak ang tagumpay ng 11th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games sa Puerto Princesa sa Disyembre 1-5, 2024.
Ang Games ay tatampukan ng kumpetisyon sa athletics, archery, swimming, badminton, sepak takraw, pencak silat at esports.
Inaasahan ng mga organizer ang hindi bababa sa 150 atleta at opisyal mula sa bawat kalahok na bansa na kinabibilangan ng Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia at Pilipinas.
Subalit sinabi ni PSC commissioner Walter Torres, na siyang nangangasiwa sa Games, sa Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum noong Martes sa Rizal Memorial Sports Complex na inimbitahan nila ang Australia na lumahok sa event na huling idinaos noong 2018.
“By history BIMP-EAGA was a venue to help develop tourism, trade and investment among the member countries. Then sports became a factor when it was held in 1996 in General Santos City,” wika ni Torres, na kinatawan ang bansa sa 1992 Barcelona Olympics bilang fencer.
“And since the direction of Puerto Princesa is into sports tourism, it is also a big opportunity. The other countries will also have the opportunity to promote their activities like fiestas and celebrations, and promote their products whether in goods or services,” dagdag pa niya.
Si Torres ay sinamahan sa forum na itinataguyod ng San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Smart/PLDT, MILO, at ng ArenaPlus, ang 24/7 sports app sa bansa, ni PSC chairman Richard Bachmann.
“The PSC is here to ensure a good experience especially for our neighbors who are coming in,” ani Bachmann, na nais magdagdag ng events at sports sa BIMP-EAGA calendar.
“We just want to give our athletes more opportunities to compete,” ayon kay Bachmann.
“It’s a challenge but we want to make this bigger and better,” dagdag ni Torres, na inaasahan din ang suporta ni Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron.
CLYDE MARIANO
