Time to ignite Olympic flame for Southeast Asia – Gregorio

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio took the floor during the 8th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Sports in Hanoi last Thursday and quickly made his presence felt.

Gregorio, only in his fourth month as PSC chairman, reiterated before his counterparts, including those from Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei, Timor Leste, Laos and host Vietnam, the importance of boosting sports tourism in the region by hosting high-caliber, world-class events.

“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,” said Gregorio.

“There is potential and power for all of us to tap,” he added.

The former basketball, boxing and rowing official said sky’s the limit for Southeast Asian countries as far as sports tourism is concerned.

“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,” he said.

While Japan (1964 and 2020) South Korea (1988) and China (2008) have hosted the Summer Games, no Southeast Asian country has enjoyed the great privilege.

Gregorio said it can be done the way Japan and South Korea co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup; and the way the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia co-hosted the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

“We must aspire to inspire. It’s about time. And why not? One Asean. One Olympic dream. One Olympic flame,” said Gregorio, adding that his fellow delegates were “pleasantly surprised” with his pitch.

“You made us all realize,” he quoted one sports minister as saying.

The Philippines, he stressed, is enjoying the gains and benefits of sports tourism by hosting international events, featuring world-class competition.

Last month, the Philippines hosted the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships, to be followed by the World Surf League Qualifying Series 6000 and 4000 in Siargao on Oct. 24 to 31 and in Baler, Quezon on Nov. 17 to 23; Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships on Nov. 20 to 24 with 80 countries competing; and the maiden FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup on Nov. 21 to Dec. 7 drawing 16 federations.

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

“Sports inspires solidarity and awakens collective purpose. We must continue to harness it as a transformative instrument for socio-cultural development and peace,” he said.

Gregorio closed out his speech by calling for an Asean Summit on Tourism and Sports, which the Philippines would gladly host next year.

“Let me end by encouraging continued dialogue and stronger cooperation among us. I would like to extend an invitation to everyone here. I would like to bring together the region’s Sports and Tourism Ministers to explore more areas of cooperation and develop joint hosting plans for world events,” he said.

“Please come visit us. Let’s plan exciting things together. Let sports unite, uplift, and transform the Southeast Asian region as a new sports tourism powerhouse in the years to come. I hope to see you all in the Philippines soon.”