After the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, the South Korean port city of Incheon is the next host of the event in 2014. South Korea’s Shin Yong-Suk pledged the world would see the best ever Games. Incheon is a well organized economic city and the South Koreans have worked hard to win the right to host the 2014 games. The Asiad is expected to have a massive economic impact on Incheon with officials forecasting it will create 270,000 new jobs and attract huge foreign investment. The city currently has 11 Olympic-standard sports facilities with four more being upgraded and five new stadiums in the planning phase. Another 17 facilities be built before the event, including new aquatics and tennis complexes. Korea’ has had an accumulated experience from hosting some of the world’s greatest sporting events together with its advanced infrastructure, its surging economy and its passion for sports.

Jane Ong, spokesman of a group of swimmers, complained that the Philippine Olympic Committee should implement its real decision in replacing Monchito Ilagan as president of the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association-National Capital Region.  Ong reminded the POC of a provision for the holding of an election among the regional directors based on the bylaws of PASA. In 2005, an agreement was forged to install Mark Joseph as temporary president until the regional elections were held. “To our knowledge, there has been no elections of regional directors and NCR has no president to this day,” stresses Ong.

You can now watch UFC games online by going to sopcast or TVU.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, recognized as the largest MMA promotion in the world. The UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada and is owned and operated by Zuffa.

Unexpectedly, Solar Sports might just can in the rights for the TV coverage of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Games beginning this August. The negotiations between ABS-CBN and PBA bogged down and the network has formally announced its withdrawal in a letter sent to the PBA Board of Governors.  Solar Sports has offered a three-year deal to show PBA Games on Channel 9.  The offer reportedly sums up to about P160 million.

Interested billiard players are invited to join and register at the Star Billiards Center or Raya Sports Office, both located in Quezon City, for the second leg of the Philippine Pool Tour Puerto Princesa Cup leg 10-Ball Championships scheduled on June 21-24 at Puerto Princesa City Coliseum, Palawan. Organized by the Billiards and Snookers Congress of the Philippines, the tournament will be aired live on Studio 23 and The Filipino Channel.  For further information, applicants may look for BSCP treasurer Mr. Sebastian Chua at mobile no. 0917-8888888.

Wynn Las Vegas Casino is threatening to file criminal charges against former National Basketball Association star player Charles Barkley for non-payment of a P400,000 debt. Barkley allegedly loaned P100,000 from the casino in October last year but has failed to settle the debt up to now. Barkley played 13 times in the NBA All Star and presently works with TNT Television as a sports commentator.

With the organization of the Philippine National Anti-Doping Organization, officials of the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Center for Sports Medicine are hopeful that the country will be able to establish its own anti-doping center soon. “The country can save in expenditures if we have our own anti-doping center. When the country hosted the 23rd Asian Games in 2005, we had go send some urine samples to China and the Philippines had to spend from $200 to $400 per sampling,” explains Dr. Alex Pineda, Head of Doping Control Unit.

Expect a blockbuster fight between People’s champ Manny Pacquiao and WBC Lightweight Champ David Diaz at the Las Vegas, Nevada on June 28.

The boxers already faced each other at the prefight conference in Los Angelese, California. Pacquiao is eyeing the WBC Lightweight belt of David to add to the present three boxing titles under the pambansang kamao’s name.

Games and Amusement Board Chairman Eric Buhain sternly warned that he might be forced to issue a cease and desist orders to billiards promoters that hold tournaments without the necessary permits from government agencies. During the first week of May, two big billiards tournaments were held that caught the GAB’s attention.  The Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines had the Mandaluyong Cup 10-Ball with Antonio Gabica taking home the grand prize of $10,000 while the Billiards Manager and Players Association of the Philippines mounted the Senate President Manny Villar 9-Ball whose P400,000 top prize was won by Warren Kiamco. On their part, the billiards promoters asked the Philippine Senate to probe into the GAB’S harassment and arrogation of non-existent powers.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation has expressed its full support to the 1st Fr. Candusso Open Invitational Seven-A-Side Football Tournament at the Don Bosco Technical College grounds in Mandaluyong City. PAGCOR also fielded two teams to compete with 15 schools and club teams from Metro Manila. The tournament was organized by the Don Bosco Alumni Association and Grigio de Solaroli Football Club.