Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani visited Malacañang on Friday for a meeting with Ferdinand Marcos Jr., where discussions centered on advancing sports initiatives and potential regional events in the country.
The Palace said the talks explored ways to deepen ties in athletic development programs, alongside broader cooperation between regional sporting bodies and Philippine institutions. The possibility of staging more Asian-level competitions locally was also raised during the meeting.
Key Philippine sports officials were present, including Abraham Tolentino and Patrick Gregorio, signaling alignment between national leadership and sports stakeholders on long-term plans.
The engagement followed a recent development in the regional sports calendar, where the Philippines secured hosting duties for an upcoming major event after formally receiving the OCA flag during the Asian Beach Games turnover ceremony.
