FROM world championships to global conclaves, the Philippines is slowly building a reputation as a hotbed for some of the biggest sports tournaments in the world. But if we really intend to land the big ones, such as the Asian Games, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said long-term planning is key.
But despite not having this foresight, Cayetano said the country was still able to hold big events. To name the important ones, over the past few years the Philippines has hosted the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and the 2022-24 Volleyball Nations League.
The country also hosted 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup but there was planning that went into this because local organizers had a big head start since the games were awarded to the country many years in advance.
For the country to continue to enjoy the trust of international sports associations and federations, Cayetano said we must think ahead.
"Ako personally, nasa wishlist ko o bucket list talaga to host the World’s Women Volleyball Championship, and sana in my lifetime, 'yung Asian Games. I had the privilege of being in the opening ng Asian Games sa Indonesia, and of course sa SEA Games sa atin.
"[The World Championship] is much, much bigger than the Asian Games, pero kayang-kaya ng Pinoy, given the opportunity. Pero kailangang masanay tayo ng planning ng more than two years — three, four, five-year planning," said Cayetano.
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"Parang short-term tayo eh. Panay 'andiyan na, dapat yung venue tapos one to two years (to prepare) lang.' Pero kung matuto tayong mag-plan na we won it eight years before or seven and we have four years to build, we can really be a powerhouse sa hosting."
Currently, the country has started to prepare for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship — the biggest of the sport's showpiece events with an expanded 32-team field duking it out in the two-week tournament.
According to volleyball officials, the Philippines had earlier wanted to host the Volleyball Women's World Championship. However, the country got the other juicy prize which is the FIVB men's championship.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) chief Ramon 'Tats' Suzara admitted that 'economic-related changes' prompted a shift in focus to hosting the men's tilt instead. He did not elaborate on what these economic-related changes were.
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