THE 11th Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines-East Asean Growth Area Friendship Games, a developmental meet for aspiring young athletes organized by the Philippine Sports Commission, will be held from Dec. 1 to 5 in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
“The 11th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games will have eight sports, namely, athletics, archery, swimming, badminton, sepak takraw, pencak silat, karate kata (forms) and e-sports,” PSC Commissioner Walter Torres said yesterday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the PSC conference room.
Joining him in the public sports program backed by the Philippine Olympic Committee, PSC, Smart, Milo, San Miguel Corp. and Arena Plus was PSC chief Richard Bachmann, who has thrown his full support to the sportsfest the country last hosted in 2011 in General Santos City.
Torres, who will have oversight over the Games, said that Darwin, Australia will also field a team in the meet, an offshoot of the group created in 1994 to foster socio-economic, cultural and sports ties among the areas in the region.
“Darwin also showed interest in joining us because they also have plans to revive the Arafura Games and would like to use the sportsfest to drum up interest in it,” Torres said of competition for athletes aged 16 to 21.
He cited Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron, who has been pushing to make the city a major sports tourism destination, in showing keen interest in hosting the meet.
“Definitely, Puerto will benefit from it,” said Torres.
