Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio took the floor during the 8th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Sports in Hanoi last Thursday and quickly made his presence felt.

Only in his fourth month as PSC chairman, Gregorio reiterated before his counterparts, including those from Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei, Timor Leste, Laos and host Vietnam, the importance of boosting sports tourism in the region by hosting high-caliber, world-class events.

“I personally and wholeheartedly support the inclusion of sports tourism as a key priority area — especially in the Southeast Asian region, which is now emerging as a sports hub globally,” Gregorio said.

“There is potential and power for all of us to tap,” he added.

The former basketball, boxing and rowing official said sky’s the limit for Southeast Asian countries as far as sports tourism is concerned.

“In fact, I imagine, to further showcase our collective strength in sports tourism, the time will come for us to join forces for a future bid to host world sporting events together: whether that’s the FIFA World Cup, the World Games, or one day, the Olympic Games,” he said.

While Japan (1964 and 2020) South Korea (1988) and China (2008) have hosted the Summer Games, no Southeast Asian country has enjoyed the great privilege.

Gregorio said it can be done the way Japan and South Korea co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup; and the way the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia co-hosted the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

“We must aspire to inspire. It’s about time. And why not? One Asean. One Olympic dream. One Olympic flame,” said Gregorio, adding that his fellow delegates were “pleasantly surprised” with his pitch.

“You made us all realize,” he quoted one sports minister as saying.

The Philippines, he stressed, is enjoying the gains and benefits of sports tourism by hosting international events, featuring world-class competition.

Last month, the Philippines hosted the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships, to be followed by the World Surf League Qualifying Series 6000 and 4000 in Siargao on 24 to 31 October and in Baler, Quezon on 17 to 23 November; Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships on 20 to 24 November with 80 countries competing; and the maiden FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup on 21 November to 7 December drawing 16 federations.

“I strongly agree with Brunei Minister on Culture, Youth and Sports Nazmi Mohamad that we as a region must establish Asean-branded sports events,” Gregorio said.