Philippines bids for Olympic shoot camp hosting

MANILA, Philippines—The country is bidding to host next year’s Youth Olympic Shooting Camp, an event that is expected to draw at least 43 nations, according to Philippine National Shooting Association president Mikee Romero.

Romero, the popular sports patron who also supports basketball, baseball and cycling, said the event will help promote shooting, particularly the shotgun events where Filipinos have a strong chance of winning internationally.

The camp, for which Malaysia and Singapore have also placed bids, is scheduled in June.

“We need this kind of activity to promote the sport of shotgun in the country,” said Romero, who is also president of port services firm Harbour Centre.

“We will learn a lot from this two-week shooting camp because current and former Olympians and coaches from all over the world will be taking part to teach young shooters.”

The PNSA is hoping to qualify as many as four shooters to the London Olympics.

Romero and PNSA executive director Larry Paredes have already informed Asian Shooting Confederation president H. E. Sheil Salman Al Sabah of Kuwait about the country’s intention to stage the camp.

The two officials attended the recent ASC congress where Al Sabah, a member of Kuwait’s royal family, vowed to help the Philippines promote the sport.

“The Sheik promised to help us, so I hope we will win the right to host the event,” said Romero.

Meanwhile, former PNSA president and Olympian Art Macapagal was reelected to the executive board of the ASC. Macapagal was one of the two Southeast Asian delegates who made it to the powerful board.