It is described as a “monumental milestone in Philippine sports history.”
On Monday, April 27, the landmark Host City Contract Signing Ceremony was led by Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheikh Joaan bin Hanad Al Thani and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino in Sanya, China.
The said event concerns the upcoming hosting of the province of Cebu in central Philippines of the 2028 Asian Beach Games.
The said signing happened at the sidelines of the ongoing edition in Sanya, where a delegation of Filipino national athletes are also competing.
In his address, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani formally welcomed the Philippines as the next stage for the region’s premier beach, water, and action sports athletes.
“We would like to congratulate the Philippines for the hosting of the 7th Asian Beach Games in 2028, in Cebu,” he said. “Wishing you a pleasant stay in Sanya,” the OCA President declared, sealing the continental council’s full trust in the Philippine hosting capabilities.”
For his part, Tolentino said the 2028 hosting rights is a massive diplomatic victory that ends a massive drought for the country in staging major continental sporting events.
“My colleagues in OCA in the Asian continent, it’s been a while since we are not able to host an Asian event, it was the 50s and 60s—the last Asian Games hosting,” Tolentino emphasized.
Targeting a March 2028 schedule, the country’s top sports brass envisions the massive continental meet not just as a sporting milestone, but as a monumental catalyst for the nation’s sports tourism sector.
He added, “That’s why we are very excited in this next edition of the Asian Beach Games so we can showcase our hospitality, friendship, culture and the beauty of Cebu City. We are very, very excited because this is part of our sports tourism and tourism.“
POC Secretary General Atty. Wharton Chan disclosed that the schedule is specifically designed to happen before the massive influx of the Holy Week in the Philippines to ensure seamless continuity in tourism.
“March 2028 yan. After ng Ramadan, we’ll start with the games, possible two weeks yung games natin,” Chan explained.
He also detailed the initial sporting framework, prioritizing disciplines where Filipinos traditionally excel and where the island of Cebu can provide world-class natural venues.
“Priority natin dito 24 sports—team sports, water sports, martial arts, and individual sports. So, mostly those sports ang priority natin and hopefully it will be accepted by the OCA (Olympic Council of Asia).”
Chan also noted that negotiations for the hosting ran smoothly and shared, “Hindi tayo nahirapan kasi Asian Beach Games, Philippines is very popular in beach and natural resources. So, nung nalaman natin na open for bid yung Asian Beach Games… hindi tayo nag-atubili and we approached the OCA and binigyan din tayo ng slot.”
However, the POC official furthered that it will still be a challenge, noting the logistics of handling delegates from 45 countries all over Asia.
“This will be a huge challenge dahil 45 countries ang dadalo and it is a major event. Biggest so far, this will be a milestone for the Philippines.”
Despite the logistical mountain ahead, the POC Secretary General expressed supreme confidence in Cebu’s infrastructure and the renowned Filipino hospitality, talent, creativity and passion for hosting major sports and tourism events like the annual Sinulog Festival.
“Kaya naman po natin with our accommodations, with the warm hospitality of the Philippines. The facilities dumadami na and I don’t really see na hindi tayo capable for hosting,” Chan concluded.
“This is already a practice for a possible future hosting of the Asian Games,” he added while stressing that the country is lookin to host the Asiad, which the Philippines last hosted in 1954.