The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Taekwondo fans will have another chance to see the world’s top jins showcase their skills anew should the Philippines gets to host the Olympics qualifying event for the second time since 2000.
“We’re really serious to host the qualifying tournament anew,” said association secretary general Dr. Noli Gabriel in an interview.
“We have the necessary facilities to host the qualifying tournament. I am optimistic the World Taekwondo Federation will choose the Philippines for the Olympics qualifying,” noted Gabriel. Gabriel said PTA chief executive officer Sung Chon Hong is interested to host the event to give Filipinos another chance to compete in the Summer Olympics slated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Thailand, according to Gabriel, is also interested to host the tournament, which features crack jins from around the globe.
“Sa tingin ko baka ibigay sa atin dahil kilala ang Pilipinas na mahusay mag host ng mga malalaking international sports competitions,” said Gabriel.
“The Philippines hosted numerous international sporting competitions, like the World Basketball, the historic Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazer Thrilla in Manila, FIBA Asia, and Asian Men’s Volleyball,” stressed Gabriel.
The Philippines last hosted the event in 2000 before the Sydney Olympics.
It was in Sydney where taekwondo became a regular sports after the Korean-invented martial art was played as a demonstration sport in 1988 in Seoul.
Seoul is the birthplace of Sung. A former world taekwondo champion and currently ranking official of Asian Taekwondo Federation, Sung lives permanently in the Philippines with wife and children.
Roberto Cruz, Donald Geisler, Jasmine Strachan and Eva Marie Dethan earned the distinction as the first four Filipinos to compete in the Olympics in Sydney.
Gabriel said a total of P10 million is needed to host the qualifying tournament.
“We can easily raise the needed amount because many private firms are supporting taekwondo like Petron and MVP Sports Foundation of business mogul and sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan,” he said.
“The competition is still far, we have ample time to prepare and raise the money,” he said.
Taekwondo is a priority sport of the Philippine Sports Commission and a regular source of international pride. Taekwondo won three bronzes in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
The Philippines did not send athletes in taekwondo in the 2012 London Olympics.
Clyde Mariano
