Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick ‘Pato’ Gregorio. Photo from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).MANILA — Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick "Pato" Gregorio is looking to boost sports tourism, as the country gears up to host three international competitions.
The Philippines will host the 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championships in September, and the 2025 FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup and the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships in November.
"Personally, I'm a believer of sports tourism. It's a beautiful industry. It showcases the beauty of the Philippines. The athletes stay longer. When these international athletes arrive in the Philippines, kasama ang buong pamilya, girlfriend, asawa, lolo, lola, they're there to compete. But they stay for what? 8 days? 10 days?" Gregorio said in an interview with ABS-CBN News on Thursday.
The PSC chairman visited Siargao earlier this week to meet with tournament organizers, national teams and discuss with local officials sports tourism initiatives.
"Last night, I had a meeting with the organizers of the World Surf League. Sinabi nila, they expect around 200 foreign delegates this October, November, and January in Siargao, in La Union, and in Baler. So, it promotes the Philippines as a sports tourism destination," Gregorio said.
"But if you look at the exposure of the athletes, hindi ba iba rin 'yung you compete in the Philippines, you compete in your own country wearing the Philippine flag, eh mas ganado ka. Iba 'yung hometown crowd, 'yung pumapalakpak sa 'yo," he shared.
Aside from promoting the country and our athletes, Gregorio said bringing international competitions here will also help raise more awareness of the sport to Filipinos.
"And lastly, it exposes the sport to the young Filipinos. Kasi pag ginawa mo 'yung sport dito, may batang nanonood. May batang sasabihin, I like volleyball, I like futsal, I like gymnastics, I like surfing, and I will pick up the sport. Ito ang sport na gusto ko. So, napakaganda nung benepisyo," he said.
While in Siargao, Gregorio visited the dragon boat team there and the Philippine rowing beach sprint team, which is a new sport in the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games and Los Angeles Olympics.
"Ang rowing ngayon is meron nang beach sprint. 50 meters, tumakbo ka sa beach. 250 meters, salubungin mo 'yung alon, bumalik ka, tumakbo ka uli. It is now an Olympic sport. Sino ba ang magaling diyan? Di ba mga surfers? So, kino-convert natin sila as beach sprint rowers as well," Gregorio said.
Gregorio said he also met with Surigao del Norte Governor Lyndon Barbers and former congressman Robert Ace Barbers to discuss turning Siargao into a sports tourism destination.
"Pinag-usapan namin ni Governor Barbers 'yung opportunity to maybe develop Siargao as the training facility for water sports. Lagyan na natin ng tamang training facility," he said.
"Papadala tayo ng coach, papadala tayo ng local coach, ng foreign coach. Gagawa tayo ng mga competitions dito like the World Surf League, the Longboard Competition, the Dragon Boat Competition. And it will showcase Siargao not only as a tourism destination," Gregorio shared.
The PSC chief said he will continue to visit other provinces with the same goal of pushing for sports tourism.
REGIONAL TRAINING HUBS
Gregorio likewise said they are looking into developing more regional training hubs for various sports outside Metro Manila to widen grassroots development.
"It is in the instruction of the President and Malacanang na sinasabi nila bakit ang Philippine Sports Commission nasa Manila lang? So what is happening is you pull out 'yung batang atleta, 10, 11, 12 years old, iniwalay mo sa pamilya para mag-training na," he shared.
"So if we put regional training centers of a particular sport in Northern Luzon, in Central Luzon, in Southern Luzon, in Eastern Visayas, in Western Visayas, in Northern Mindanao, in Southern Mindanao. They stay there until they become super elite athletes and then the grassroots development will develop," he explained.
Gregorio said they will work closely with the local government units to be able to get and train more athletes from the provinces.
He cited the example of young weightlifting champions who mostly hail from Zamboanga City, where the gym of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz is located.
Gregorio also said boxers are mostly from Bago City and Cagayan de Oro, where Olympic medalists the Velasco brothers and Carlo Paalam are from.
"Maybe it is time for these provinces to identify a sport they want to adopt and refocus. Kasi mas mura, mas efficient, mas madaling turuan. I'm not saying we stop the development of other sports. What I'm saying is pwede bang may favorite sport ka? Kasi kung may favorite sport ka, that means mas maraming resources ibubuhos natin sa sport na 'yun," he said.
The PSC chief earlier met with the Private Sector Advisory Council tourism head who pledged support to develop sports tourism in the country.
Gregorio said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighting sports development in his fourth State of the Nation Address is a sign that they need to take a second look and implement changes in Philippine sports.