THE Philippine Olympic Committee is looking to bid for the hosting of the Asian Games in the not-too-distant future.
Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino, the POC president, bared about the plans of bringing back the quadrennial meet whose last staging was held in Manila 72 years ago.
Tolentino said he’s looking at bidding for the 2038 hosting of the Asiad, just enough time for the country to prepare for it.
“Gusto nating mag-bid ng Asian Games. 1954 dito na ang Asian Games, Manila, Philippines. So hindi na tayo nakaulit,” Tolentino disclosed during the send-off for Team Philippines in the coming 20th edition of the Asiad in Nagoya, Japan.
“Now is the time to bid. Huwag na natin sayangin yung pagkakataon na ito or else mahihirapan na tayo.”
READ: Bambol challenges PH athletes to go for eight Asiad gold medals
The Philippines finished second overall with 14 golds, 14 silvers, and 17 bronzes during the time the Asiad was held here just nine years after the end of World War II.
The Rizal Memorial Stadium was the main venue of the event which was declared open by the late president Ramon Magsaysay.
Bidding to hold Asia’s version of the Olympics had been in the planning stage even during the POC term of former congressman Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco in the past, although nothing concrete has come out of it.
Tolentino, though, is dead-serious about it and already has his eyes set on the 2038 staging as Doha, Qatar will host the 2030 edition followed by Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2034.
“Ang available slot na lang is (2038),” he told the more than 200 athletes and officials who gathered during the event held on Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. “Iba na ang lalaro nun, yung mga youth na inaalagaan na ng PSC at ng POC.
“Ang history dun, time nating lahat, time po ninyo. Now is the time.”
Earlier reports had it that the city of Ahmedabad, India already expressed before the Olympic Council of Asia its strong interest to host the Games, while countries such as South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Mongolia are likewise looking to bid.
Tolentino is all go for it that he’s just waiting any advisory from the PSC under chairman Patrick Gregorio whether he’ll start campaigning for the Asiad being hosted here.
“Hinihintay ko lang ang sagot ng PSC to go for it then I can deliver it to you na,” said the POC president. “(Kumabaga) sa basketball, pinapasa ko na sa inyo yung bola. Sabihin ninyo lang na go for it, then we will go for it.”
Tolentino added missing out on the Asiad hosting 12 years from now would make it difficult for the country again to bid for the multi-sports event.
“After this, mahihirapan na tayo. Marami ng magsusulputan diyan,” he said, mentioning the likes of Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, as well as other Middle East countries.
“At yun lang ang puwede naming iwan ni chairman Pato na legacy pagdating sa mga hosting (of events).”
At the same time, Tolentino also mentioned possibly hosting the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games four years from now. The latest edition of the games will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this December.
“Yung AIMAG we can bid that also, that will be in 2030. Doable na doable yan,” said the POC honcho.
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