Philippines to host 2013 Centennial Asian Games

MANILA — The Olympic Council of Asia has designated the Philippines as host of the Centennial Asian Games celebration in 2013.

Philippine Olympic Committee chair Monico Puentevella yesterday said athletes and officials from the 45 member-countries of OCA are expected to participate in what will be called the Asian Unity Games to be held in late November 2013 in world famous Boracay.

Puentevella said the Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. immediately formed an executive task force after the OCA approved the hosting during its general assembly meeting last week in Tokyo.

Cojuangco and Puentevella made the pitch to host the event which was also attended by POC secretary general Steve Hontiveros and OCA athletes commission member Mikee Jaworski.

The Asian Games started as the Far Eastern Games, which had its inaugural in Manila 1913. The first Asian Games was held in 1951 in New Delhi.

Puentevella said outstanding athletes all over Asia in the last 100 years will be invited while active national athletes from the 45 nations will compete in several disciplines, including beach volleyball and open sea marathon.

“We haven’t hosted an event of such magnitude in the last 50 years or so,” said Puentevella, whose father, the late Jesus Puentevella, donned the national colors in tennis and baseball during the 1st Far Eastern Games.