[INFO] More Information about the 2013 Asian Games Centennial Festival (2013 AGCEF)

The Far Eastern Championship Games (also known as Far East Games) was a small Asian multi-sport competition considered to be a precursor to the Asian Games.

In 1912, Elwood S. Brown, President of the Philippine Athletic Association and Manila Carnival Games, proposed the creation of the “Far Eastern Olympic Games” to China and Japan. The first Far Eastern Championship Games was held in the Carnival Grounds (now Rizal Memorial Sports Complex) in Malate, Manila, Philippines on February 4, 1913. China, Japan, and the Philippines were the only countries to contest the early meetings of these games, with India entering in 1930 and the Dutch East Indies in 1934. In 1937 with the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the planned games for 1938 were cancelled.

To commemorate the 100 years of the first Far Eastern Championship Games which was held here in the Philippines, the 2013 Asian Games Centennial Festival (AGCEF) was created to undertake and oversee all the necessary preparations needed for the success of this celebration. Incidentally, the Olympic Council of Asia also chose our country to host their 32nd General Assembly coinciding with our centennial celebration. This historical and monumental event will be held in the beautiful Island of Boracay from November 26 – 29, 2013.

The festival will be more than a regular convention, since this celebration is the 1st of its kind.  It is a statement to the world that ASIA has now emerged as a powerhouse in the realm of sports.  A great distinction and honor has been bequeathed to the Philippines by the leadership of the OCA and ANOC.  There has been no other event in the history of the Philippines that has been attended by delegates and world leaders representing 204 nations of the world.

The 45 member nations of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) together with the remaining 160 affiliate National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) will all be in attendance at the Centennial Festival — with an approximate number of 1,500 delegates. The delegates of the nations of the world are composed not only of sports leaders in their respective countries, but also leaders of government, industry, business, and economies. This event does not only give honour to our country, but is also an opportunity to showcase the richness of our culture, the beauty of our country and a great way to promote our nation as a prime tourist destination, especially with Boracay being the world acclaimed Best Beach for the year 2012.

Filipinos have always been proud of their sports heroes.  We rally and cheer behind them despite the odds. This exemplifies the patriotic spirit of our people. This festival will also embody both sports and national pride, which will need the involvement and active participation of the people.  We have an opportunity to constructively promote nationalism and unity amongst the Filipino people as we embrace the rest of the world in our homeland.

Mabuhay! “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”.

Source:  AGCEF HP
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