Delegates from all Association of Southeast Asian Nation member countries kicked off the series of meetings for the 9th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Sports (SOMS-9) scheduled here in Manila from Oct. 6 to 10 with moves that serve to strengthen bonds and interaction within the region through sports cooperation.
The Philippines assumed chairmanship of the SOMS-9 today, turned over from past host Myanmar. SOMS-9 chairperson, Philippine Sports Commission Executive Director Merlita Ibay thanked all attendees and assured that “commitments made by the ASEAN member countries under the 5-year ASEAN Work Plan on Sports 2016-2020 will be continued and completed under the country’s chairpersonship.”
The meeting cast the spotlight on the preparation for the Joint Bid for the FIFA World Cup 2034 and the need to strengthen coordination with relevant stakeholders in this regard.
In the same meeting, it was also agreed that Malaysia will host the initial meeting for the establishment of the e-sports federation in the region as proposed by Malaysian Head of Delegation and Director General of the Malaysian National Sports Council Ahmad Shapawi Bin Ismail. All delegation heads expressed their support for establishing said ASEAN sports association.
PSC Chairman William Ramirez, meanwhile, will lead the 5th ASEAN Ministerial Meetings on Sports as its Chairman on Tuesday with the distinction of convening the First ASEAN plus Japan Meeting on Women and Sports.
