The Olympic Council of Asia has formally awarded the Philippines the hosting rights for the 7th Asian Beach Games, set in Cebu City in March 2028, marking a significant return of a major continental sports event to the country.
The Host City Contract was signed Monday in Sanya, China, led by OCA President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
Sheikh Joaan officially confirmed the award during the ceremony, extending the council’s support to the Philippines as the next host of Asia’s premier beach and action sports competition.
“We would like to congratulate the Philippines for the hosting of the 7th Asian Beach Games in 2028, in Cebu,” he said.
Tolentino described the hosting rights as a milestone for Philippine sports, noting it ends a long gap in staging major Asian-level events.
“It’s been a while since we are not able to host an Asian event,” Tolentino said, adding that the Cebu edition will showcase Filipino hospitality, culture, and tourism potential. “We are very excited because this is part of our sports tourism and tourism.”
POC Secretary General Wharton Chan said the Games are targeted for March 2028, with a schedule designed after Ramadan and ahead of Holy Week, and are expected to run for about two weeks. He said the event will feature around 24 sports across team, water, martial arts, and individual disciplines, subject to approval by the OCA.
Chan added that roughly 45 countries are expected to participate, making it one of the largest editions of the Asian Beach Games. He acknowledged that while securing the hosting rights was not difficult, delivering the event will be a major challenge.
“This will be a huge challenge… biggest so far,” Chan said, citing the scale of participation and logistical requirements.
Tolentino also emphasized the broader impact of the Games on sports tourism and national development, calling it a key opportunity to further strengthen the country’s hosting capabilities in international competitions.
The announcement comes as the Sanya Asian Beach Games are still ongoing, where the Philippines continues its campaign in multiple events.
As of Tuesday, April 28, Team Philippines remained in third place in the medal standings after five days of competition, with three gold, two silver, and two bronze medals, holding position among 45 participating nations.
