Puerto Princesa: A total of 192 gold medals will be at stake as four nations compete in the 11th BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area) Friendship Games that opened in this Palawan capital Sunday. The 356-athlete Team Philippines will be reinforced by delegations from Davao City, General Santos City/Sarangani province, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, this city, and Palawan province. The athletics and sepak takraw medal rounds will be played Monday and Tuesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the other six events – archery, badminton, esports, karate (non-contact), pencak silat (non-contact), and swimming – will be held Wednesday. Archery, athletics, and swimming will be at Ramon V. Mitra Jr. Sports Complex; badminton at Edward S. Hagedorn Coliseum; esports at SM City; karatedo at NCCC Mall; pencak silat at Robinsons Place; and sepak takraw at Palawan State University. Earlier, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia won their sepak takraw m
en’s and women’s quad stage matches.
Intermittent rains forced organizers to move the opening parade from the Mitra oval to the indoor Hagedorn Coliseum. Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chair Richard Bachmann said the country is committed to strengthening cooperation and solidarity to achieve unified goals for growth and development within the region. “As we open the BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games 2024, we emphasize the important role that sports play in achieving meaningful milestones together,” Bachmann said in his speech.
Prayer rooms in game venues and halal food are part of the preparations for the benefit of Muslim athletes and officials, according to City Sports Office head Gregorio Austria. The BIMP-EAGA Games is the third major event here following the World Dragon Boat Championships on Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 and the Batang Pinoy National Championships on Nov. 24 to 28. On Saturday, Bachmann and Commissioner Walter Torres inaugurated the Sports Expo and Cultural Fair at Mitra Sports Complex basketball co
urt, with Mayor Lucilo Bayron and BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Center head Dr. Susan Pudin.
The PSC booth showcases its flagship programs and has fun games with prizes. Other booths feature Filipino-made products and participating nations’ information counters. The fair is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Dec. 4. “Let me congratulate everyone for their commitment and dedication in making this event possible, ensuring that all the delegates will experience the best quality of sporting atmosphere to emphasize our regional solidarity,” Bachmann said.