The Philippines is set to host another international competition that will boost local sports tourism with the upcoming 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships, supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), scheduled for June 23 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Record Participation Expected
Philippine Sambo Federation Inc. president Paolo Tancontian announced that participation has exceeded initial expectations. "We had expected only about 500 athletes but those numbers are swelling since we presently have about 400 of them already. We could end up with over 600 grapplers from 31 countries," he said.
Tancontian revealed that neighboring Cambodia has sent a 42-member delegation, posing a serious challenge in the five-day competition. "These numbers may seem small for team sports, but for sambo that is a lot of entries," he added.
International Interest
Countries from across Asia and Oceania have shown strong interest, including Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Syria, as well as Australia and New Zealand. Tancontian noted that without tensions in the Middle East, up to 36 member nations of the Sambo Union of Asia and Oceania would have sent teams.
Economic Impact
PSC Chairman Patrick "Pato" Gregorio emphasized that the event supports the government's sports tourism advocacy. "Hosting a well-organized international competition like the forthcoming 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships is always a welcome enterprise that generates income for both the government and the tourism industry," he said.
