World Junior Gym meet to benefit from newly-formed sports tourism body - Gregorio

PSC Chairman Patrick "Pato" Gregorio and GAP President Cynthia Carrion (below) address the Inter-Agency Coordination Meeting for the 3rd Artistic Gymnastics World Championships held at the Manila Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom A in Pasay City.

THE 3rd FIG Artistics Gymnastic Junior World Championships will greatly benefit from the new National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee formed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, according to Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick "Pato" Gregorio.

"In bidding for the hosting of international meets, now both private sector represented by National Sports Associations, and the government will be on the same page," noted Gregorio during the PSC-organized Inter-Agency Coordination Meeting held last Tuesday on the global gymnastics showcase set Nov. 20 to 24 at the Manila Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.

"With the NST-IAC, both sectors can now work together without overlapping, how to maximize the brands (like the junior world championships) and maximize the support of the government agencies involved," stressed of the sports tourism body formed by the President's Administrative Order No. 38 issued last Oct. 31.

Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion, who boldly bid for the competition in last year's International Gymnastics Federation Congress in Doha, Qatar, was grateful to the PSC and the newly-formed sports tourism body for all-out government support for the meet.

"When the FIG technical officials visited the country to conduct an ocular inspection on our preparations last August, the GAP was given a gold medal fdor our organization," Carrion proudly informed the inter-agency meeting of the championships backed by the Office of the President, PSC and Newport World Resorts.

With the PSC as lead agency, a key role of the NST-IAC is to "lead plan, source, and/or allocate funds for the bidding of said (international) sporting events, in coordination with relevant international sports governing bodies, sports associations, and other government agencies, including LGUS, subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations."

It is also mandated "to formulate and implement marketing and promotional strategies to maximize the economic, cultural and social benefits of sports tourism."

Combined with all the other provisions contained in the AO, Gregorio pointed out that "what we now have here is a wholistic approach in the future for the country's bidding and hosting of international competitions."

"So if the NSA want to bid, present us the budget and then we will work it out. We can go to President BBM and Congress and ask for the money to support the hosting," the PSC chief explained.

"It is not unlike before when the NSA would ask the PSC or the Department of Tourism for money for the hosting. Now we have a systematic and all-encompassing process when we as a country bids for the hosting of international sporting events," he added.

"For at the end of the day, any international hosting will require a government guarantee. With the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee, we will have an effective plan in addressing all of these hosting requirements," Gregorio stressed.

On the other hand, Carrion reported that as of Oct. 31, a total of 72 countries and 762 participants have already signed up for the world juniors also supporrted by Philippine Airlines and St. Luke's Medical Center.

The GAP chief said that they were getting positive feedback from the foreign cotingents on the fact that the athletes and participants had the leisure of walking from their respective hotels to the unique competition arena inside the leading leisure, shopping, entertainment and gaming hub a stone's throw from the NAIA Terminal 3

"Newport World Resorts hotels has really rolled out the welcome mat for our delegates," said Carrion of the Manila Marriott Hotel, Hotel Okura Manila, Belmont Hotel, Hilton Manila Newport World, Savoy Hotel Manila, Belmont Hotel and Holiday Inn Express serving as the official quarters of the FIG brass and foreign contingents.

She reiterated that all of the participants were in for a wonderful and memorable time in experiencing the famed Filipino hospitality during and after the championships also supported by Cignal, the official broadcaster, the Department of Tourismm, Milo and Pocari Sweat. (DAS)