3As to boost RP as sports, tourist haven

The 15th Asian Athletic Championships could very well be one of the answers the Philippines is trying to seek to reclaim its image as a sports-oriented and tourist-friendly country before the world.

This view is shared by Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association president Go Teng Kok and Asian Athletics Association (3As) secretary-general Maurice Nicholas who called on the Filipino nation to back up the staging of the prestigious meet on September in Manila.

"We have more than 500 athletes and 300 officials from some 40-plus countries which are members of the 3As coming to Manila. They come to have topnotch competition and share the excitement of a successful sports event. I’m sure the Philippines is capable of providing these in the 15th Asian Championships," said Nicholas.

Go, for his part, believes the hosting of an event of such magnitude "is a testament of the indomitable Filipino spirit even during trying times."

"Our image before Asia and the rest of the world is in dire need of a big boost. Why don’t we show them our true worth as a nation," he stressed during yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Holiday Inn.

The event, which is to be staged in the country for the third time since its inaugural here in 1973, had a grand launching on Monday at the Tiera Hotel in Makati City where, in one rare moment, the bigwigs in sports, the government and the private sectors joined hands in endorsing the Manila edition.

On hand during the launching where the official logo and mascot of the event were unveiled were Go, Nicholas, International Olympic Committee representative Frank Elizalde, Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit, Philippine Sports Commission commissioner Mike Barredo and Ambrosio de Luna, Manila Sports Council head Ali Atienza and NCRPO director Gen. Reynaldo Velasco.

They were joined by other top officials of the POC, several national sports association heads and major sports sponsors.

Nicholas again pointed out that "the 3As always insist that the top athletes in Asia participate in the Championships," making the 15th edition here the next big thing after the Asian Games.

"Bali, Indonesia is staging a major marathon event in a bid to erase the stigma of a recent terror attack. The Philippines is in a better situation and a successful Asian Championships would put your country back in the right track. It will help not only your sports but also the government in terms of tourism, economics and the peace and order campaign," offered Nicholas.