The 22nd Asia Masters Athletics Championships will be held in Philippines.
The 22nd Asia Masters Athletics Championships will be held at New Clark City stadium, in Capas, Tarlac, the Philippines from November 8-12, 2023.
The President of Asian Masters Athletics (AMA) Mr Viwat Vitgrantanoros confirmed the venue and dates on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at Alexander Hotel in Bangkok where the signing ceremony took place and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached between Asia Masters Athletics (AMA) and National Masters and Seniors Athletics Association of the Philippines (NMSAAP).
"We felt very honored and proud that the NMSAAP decided to take the championships to their country, after it had been paused for three years because of Covid-19 pandemic. We believe and trust that the Philippines can carry on the task and successfully organize the championships. It will be the first time that they will be conducting the event. They have a very good facility and a strong working team," said Mr Viwat after the signing ceremony.
The 22nd edition of the championships was supposed to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2021. But, due to the pandemic, Indonesia returned the right to organize the championships to AMA.
The AMA then offered the right to the People's Republic of China who later gave up, also because of the pandemic. India decided to take up the right. But, they could not do it. Earlier this year, the Philippines came to the rescue of AMA by deciding to take the championships to their country.
"We are very grateful to the AMA council for giving us a chance to host the championships. We believe that we can do the job. The New Clark City stadium is very new. It was built in 2019 when the Philippines hosted the 30th SEA Games. We have an athletes village and a hotel that can accommodate not less than 1,500 athletes. We believe that the masters athletes will enjoy the competition at our beautiful stadium and city," the President of NMSAAP Mr Jose C. Ang Jr. said.
It is expected that not less than 2,000 athletes from 28 affiliated members of AMA will participate in the championships. Non-Asian athletes also can join in the competition, but only in some selected events.