Insider Spotlight
Organizers expect the five-day tournament to attract more than 600 athletes from as many as 31 countries, exceeding initial projections and reinforcing the country's appeal as a host for international sporting events.
Pilipinas Sambo Federation president Paolo Tancontian said participation numbers continue to rise as registration progresses.
“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,” Tancontian said in a press statement.
The big picture
The influx of athletes, coaches, officials and supporters is expected to benefit hotels, restaurants, transport services and other tourism-related businesses, underscoring the economic value of hosting international competitions.
Tancontian noted that Cambodia will send a 42-member delegation, while traditional sambo strongholds including Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Syria, along with Oceania representatives Australia and New Zealand, have expressed strong interest in participating.
He added that regional tensions in the Middle East may prevent full participation from all member nations of the Sambo Union of Asia and Oceania.
Why it matters
PSC Chair Patrick “Pato” Gregorio said the tournament demonstrates how sports can serve as a driver of tourism and economic activity.
“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,” Gregorio said.
According to Gregorio, the creation of the NST-IAC through Administrative Order No. 38 signed by President Marcos in October has strengthened coordination among government agencies, national sports associations and private-sector stakeholders involved in hosting global sporting events.
“With each staging of an international meet in our country, the NST-IAC has provided the proper guidance and framework so that these sports and tourism showcases can really shine and leave long lasting memories,” he added.
What’s next
Gregorio said organizers will apply lessons learned from previous international events to ensure the successful staging of the sambo championships while showcasing the country’s hospitality to visiting delegations.
“The overall template and formula in staging successful international tournaments locally is now there, and we continue to adjust and tweak it so that successive ones can be better than before,” he said. —-Vanessa Hidalgo| Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
