By Nick Butler at the Hotel Sofitel in Manila

The Asian sporting century was celebrated with a variety of dances singers and speeches ©ITGJanuary 17 - A luxurious banquet celebration marked the a centenary of sport in Asia here tonight.


Although the anniversary of the 1913 Far Eastern Games was initially planned for last November, the postponement and shift of venues away from Baracay Island due to Typhoon Haiyan added extra poignancy as it was the replacement location here of Manila which hosted that inaugural Asian multi-sport event now over a century ago. 

That was a fact certainly not lost on Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah and the 500 guests in attendance as they enjoyed an evening which blended the unique culture of the Philippines with the shared values and uniformity of the continent.

The Sheikh poses with, among others, the Incheon Asian Games mascot at the end of the centenary celebrations ©ITGSheikh Ahmad poses with, among others, the Incheon Asian Games mascot at the end of the centenary celebrations tonight ©ITG


After a cocktail reception, following the conclusion of the OCA Executive Board Meeting this afternoon, the evening was musically framed with an opening performance by local sensation Regine Velasquez followed by a variety of other national and international stars encompassing classical, pop and Western music. 

But the music was interwoven with a variety of speeches hailing the progression and growth of both the OCA and Asian sport.

These included addresses by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Jose "Peping" Cojuangco and Thailand's Olympic Council of Asia vice president Kanokphand Chulaksem, as well as by the evening's two hosts, singer songwriter Ogie Alcaside and Philippine IOC member, and daughter of POC President Jose, Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski.

They spoke about how, despite Asia being a "symphony of races, cultures, languages and traditions" of which controlling had not always been "plain sailing", the continent was a "training ground for some of the best athletes the world had ever seen."

They also praised Sheikh Ahmad as a "visionary leader who always plays his part to make the world a better place" before the OCA and Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) President was presented with a shield in his honour by the POC.

Prince Tunku Imran's impromptu performance concluded the evening and typified the spark of Asian sport ©ITGPrince Tunku Imran's impromptu performance concluded the evening and typified the spark of Asian sport ©ITG


The evening then concluded, in typically energetic and unique Asian fashion, with a spontaneous karaoke session by Malaysia's Commonwealth Games Federation President Tunku Imran, who, on finishing after several encores, received the largest cheer of the night.

If Prince Imran provided the most excitement however, it was Sheikh Ahmad's address which reverberated deepest when he spoke on his own role in Asian sport, as well as the importance of keeping tonight's celebrations, and tomorrow's General Assembly, in the Philippines.

He described Typhoon Haiyan as a "tragedy", but stressed, while it had caused the event to be delayed it had not been cancelled, before adding to thunderous applause that this was because "in Asia we never give up."

"Through our solidarity and unity we achieve our goals," he said.

"The most important thing is celebrating 100 years of our Movement."

Moving to the future, Sheikh Ahma said that " we cannot promise more than we can do, but will do our best", before insisting that "we continue the work of a generation who worked so hard to develop unity and solidarity."

"Asia will remain a main stakeholder of the Olympic Movement," he added.