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| Sibol should now look forward to next year's Asian Games after the Olympic Esports Games postponement according to POC chief Bambol Tolentino. Sibol (file photo) |
TAGAYTAY--Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino admitted to Dugout Philippines that they overlooked the search for the chef de mission of Sibol's campaign in the inaugural Olympic Esports Games.
However, he clarified that by the time the POC named the CDMs for the upcoming international meets on the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, they still had no idea that the International Olympic Committee would reschedule the esports Olympiad to 2027.
"Nakalimutan lang. Lahat [ng ibang events] meron na," the concurrent mayor of this city said after organizing a press conference with the Philippine men's curling team that won the gold in the Asian Winter Games on Sunday at the Knights Templar Ridge Hotel here.
The IOC broke the news of the postponement on Tuesday, instead devoting the two-year lull to a series of events leading up to the esports Olympics in Riyadh.
Tolentino agreed with what Philippine Esports Organization executive director Marlon Marcelo said on Thursday: postponement would mean more time for Sibol to prepare, especially in esports events where the national team could struggle.
"OK lang para mahaba ang preparation," Tolentino further said.
He added that it is high time Sibol should pay more attention to next year's summer Asian Games in Nagoya.
Tolentino revealed that 11 virtual games will be played in the Asian Games esports tournament, the second edition the said event will be a medal sport and the third overall including the time it was a demonstration sport in 2018.
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organizing Committee has yet to announce the esports titles to be played next year, although Tolentino's revelation means at least four games will be added on.
Meanwhile, Tolentino also said that the POC plans to talk to the national sports associations taking charge of esports titles not under PESO's jurisdiction.
For one, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is currently handling the chores of e-Gilas, the national team for NBA 2K.
The IOC has yet to reveal the official esports titles to be played in the Olympic Esports Games, but Tolentino said the POC is already looking at the possibility that NBA 2K and EA Sports FC could make the cut.
EA Sports FC was one of the seven games played during the 2023 Asian Games, the first time esports became an official medal sport.
"Yung iba kasi, under ng FIFA at FIBA, yung mga mother international federation nila," Tolentino further said.
Even if the Olympic Esports Games is now postponed for two more years, Sibol will still not lack competition as the IESF World Championship and Southeast Asian Games are still in store for them in 2025.
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