Ph I eyes bid
to host 2O3O
As ian
By EDU PUNAY
Even before the conclusion of the
30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games,
the government is already setting its
sights on the Asian Games a decade
away.
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, chair-
man of the Philippine Southeast Asian
Games Organizing Comrnittee (Phisgoc),
said yesterday he would make the pro-
posal to President Duterte.
"I'm preparing a long memo to the
President to ask if we can bid (for the
2030 Asian Games). If we do win that
bid, the host will be the administration
after the next administration. So we will
have a good 10-year period to prepare,"
Cay.etano said in an interview
The opening ceremony of the SEA
Games on Nov 30 has won praise, al-
Games,venues"*0"*0,,r,
thou gh it has ngt been free of controversy.
Cayeiano beli6ves that hostirg anoth6r
international event would be a good
inYestment for the country.
"Remember, in 2023, we will host the
basketball World Cup. And in 2016 or
2017 we hosted the World Cup in vol-
leyball. Industry-wise, this will bring in
big money and employment oPPortuni-
ties to Filipinos if we develop our sports
tourism," he stressed.
The Speaker saidhe had discussed the
matter with Philippine Olympic Com-
mittee president and Cavite 8th district
Rep. Bambol Tolentino, who favored the
orooosal.
' Cuyetano suggested thai the Duterte
administration mlv bid to the
oass on the
next administratio'n, and tlen to the next
administration that would be in charge
of the hostins.
"What is #vantageous with the Asian
\
heAot.tNtr- slta'.)sz
(1)
in Luzon, and you can actually build
facilities in the Visayas and Mindanao,"
the replesentative of Taguig and Pateros
pointed out.
Cayetano bared the plan after Olym-
pic Council of Asia vice president Wei
jizhong of China suggested last weekend
that the Philippines should considerbid-
ding for "bigger events" such as ihe 2!30
Asiin Gam"ei, after experiencing frrsi'-.
hand the ongoing SEA Cames.
"The Phi-i ippine Arena is perhaps
a unique arena in the world. We wit-
nessed'the enthusiasm of all athletes, and
showed the excellent tradition of the SEA
Games so far This means that the Philip-
pines is capable to organize bigger-scale
Cames," Wei explained.
Wei further said that the welcoming
attitude of the Filipino p;ople toward
spods was one of the malor factors that
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Nt Yf ,o{ee M.
 THE PHILIPPINE STAR
news
Phl eyes
impressed him so far.
Hangzhou in China will
host the 2022 Asian Games
and Nagoya in Japan will be
the host in 2026.
Cayetano also revealed that
the Singaporean governrnent
has expressed willingness to
help develop the country's
sports facilities.
He said he met with his
Singaporean counterpart,
Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin" who
congratulated him and said
i THURSDAY I DECEMBER 5,2OI9
FromPasel
conference aw#d-giving body Reo. Precious Hipolito-Caste-
tecognized PHISGOC as the lo fias pushed foi the grant of
"Best SEA G;imes Orgarizer." full and lifetime educational
(CSC) commissioner Aileen
Lizada iold reporters yes-
terday that Iligan City Rep.
they were happy with the "We are humbled by this sqholarship with allowances Frederick Siao, chairman of
country's hosting of the SEA recognition and we will strive to Filipino athletes who won the House committee on civil
Games. to keep the momentum going medals in this year's Games. service and professional reg-
"Since we are buildins for the country," Cayetano Castelo said scholarships ulation, plans to file a bill that
the National High School foi said in receiving the award. should be awarded not onlv would grant automatic civil
Sports in Clarl there's still a to ihe athletes but also to their service eligibility to Filipino
vacant five-hectare land there Scholarships, immediate farnilies. athletes, coaches and trainers
and I asked him for help and GSG elirlibility "Free education is a fitting who have won in intemation-
he said they are open to help- Government officials have reward to oui athletes who al competitions, including in
ing us," Cayetano stressed. proposed additional incen- have demonstrated dedica- ' the ongoing Games.
Added praise came by way tives for Filipino athletes tiory discipline and persever- Lizada said she has re-
of Sports Industry Awards winning medals in the SEA ance to bring honor to our layed Siao's proposal to CSC
Asia yesterday. The interna- Games. country," Castelo said. chair Alicia dela Rosa-Bala
tional sports business and Quezon City 2nd district Civil Service Commission and other CSC commission-
ers, and they were unanimous
ur
4EAgtlrle NEuX'r in expressin8 suPport for the
proposed measure
(4) "The CSC supPorts this
move, and the chairman
(Bala) has relayed that we
are willing to extend assis-
tance if ever our assistance is
needed in crafting this bill,"
Lizada said.
"They can helP train our fu-
ture athletes. TheY can impart
their skills, their knowledge
and share their exPerience to
our trainees," she added.
* with Edu Punay, Elizabeth
Marcelo