PIA Press Release
Saturday, January 14, 2012 GenSan to host 7th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Gamesby CT ApelacioGENERAL SANTOS CITY, Jan 16 (PIA) –- The city of General Santos and the province of Sarangani will jointly host this year’s 7th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines ASEAN Growth Area or BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games, according to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). The Ministers Sports Council of the BIMP has met here Thursday (Jan 12) to discuss the preparations for the joint venture. General Santos City was chosen, however, as the main venue of the games. Philippine Sports Commissioner Joaquin Loyzaga said the event will be a good prospect for the tourism in the two areas to be given a boost and become popular to other countries as well. He said it is also a good opportunity for other people outside Region -12 “to see and experience also the development” General Santos City and Sarangani enjoy. Loyzaga said Zamboanga, Davao, GenSan, Sarangani and North Cotabato are active participants to the BIMP-EAGA. The chosen athletes from the four countries will be vying for seats in lawn tennis, table tennis, badminton, swimming, athletics, and sepak takraw. Penyuki Matta, Malaysian Youth and Sports Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary said the BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games aims to strengthen the relationship of member countries within the sub-region. He also said the event will serve as opportunity for member countries or focus areas “to showcase our cultures” thru the staging of sports games. The BIMP-EAGA is an economic cooperation composed of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines which was organized in 1994 to boost the flow of investments, trade and tourism within the sub-region. Initially set on December 8-11 this year, the friendship games will be open to athletes with ages 21 year-old below. The PSC, along with Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), among others are the lead organizers of the event. PSC said screening of qualified athletes will start as early as January, this month. Meanwhile, MinDA staff Gerardo Reynaldo said the event will have a technical working group to oversee the preparations and make sure the event itself will go as smooth as possible. (CTA/PIA General Santos City) | 
