Could the Philippines host an event like the Olympics? IOC's Mikee Cojuangco has an answer

Being a part of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski is part of the committee that selects the host nations for the Olympic events, such as the Summer and Winter Olympics.

"So the IOC is the owner of the Olympic Games, and it's our responsibility to make sure that it gets delivered. We have Winter Games and Summer Games, and now we have Youth Winter and Youth Summer Olympic Games also. So at least every two years, may Olympic Games. And the IOC is also basically in charge of global sporting policy when it comes to countries that are represented in the Olympic movement," Cojuangco-Jaworski explained in an episode of podcast "Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel."

While Paris and Los Angeles were bidding for the 2024 Summer Games, Cojuangco-Jaworski was able to visit the cities on work-related travel.

"So I was able to visit Paris, Los Angeles when they were both bidding for supposedly the 2024 games and it's... alam mo yun yung working na di na work kasi ma-eenjoy mo siya and it's not all about being able to travel, being able to seek sites," she recalled.

"We also have very highly technical discussions, about sports, about venues, about financial matters. So I mean, it all, it all comes into play, because every organization also needs to be able to support itself and to support its projects and advocacy. So kasama lahat nun sa mga ginagawa namin, so and then eventually, eventually, of course, the IOC as a whole body votes on who will be the next host, but we do it differently now."

"There's more engagement from the start pa lang, so 'yung IOC nag-a-assess na ngayon doon sa mga gustong mag-host, instead na sasabihin n'yo sige bahala kayo tapos kayong lahat magpakitang gilas kayo, because it's not necessarily in line with what the IOC is trying to do also when it comes to sustainability optimization or funding and things like that. It's not even just a matter na may magho-host ng olympics, for the IOC it's important na na may lasting effects that the Olympic Games will leave a legacy in every host city or country," she added.

Major global cities have hosted the Olympic Games in the past, but can the Philippines host one in the future?

"I don't really see it happening very soon. But as a patriot, I will never stop dreaming that it could happen one day, but as an IOC member, the demands are really high," she said.

Funding for the global games will be one of the major considerations, but for Cojuangco-Jaworski, the country can possibly do smaller scale events.

"Malaki ang gastos niya, there's no way naman that anyone can say 'Ay hindi, malaki ang gastos.' Malaki naman talaga, and I think that there's a reason that it's also more developed countries that host but as I also mentioned earlier, we have the Youth Olympic Games, and the scale of the Youth Olympics is much smaller. It's probably, you know, like a seed. Well, I dare not compare, but I think that the Philippines would be capable of hosting something like that. But it also goes through a bidding process."

And if ever the Philippines will host an Olympic event, it will be one for the books for Cojuangco-Jaworski.

"Baby steps. Wow. I think that could be one of the most exciting things for me, personally, emotionally, naks, emotionally. 'Yung makapag-host ang Pilipinas ng something for the Olympic movement."

For multisport events, the Philippines has hosted the Asian Games in 1954 and the Southeast Asian Games in 1981, 1991, 2005, and 2019. For basketball alone, the country has hosted the Asian Basketball Championship, which eventually became the FIBA Asia Cup, in 1960, 1973, and 2013. The country will also host the FIBA World Cup, along with Japan and Indonesia, in August 2023.

—JMB, GMA News