SEOUL, 11 September 2014 – The 17th Asian Games – Asia’s biggest sporting event – kicks off in Incheon on 19 September and will run through to 04 October 2014, with some 13,000 athletes from 45 Asian countries, including the Philippines, expected to complete in 36 sporting events, including the 28 Olympic game sports on the programme for Rio De Janeiro 2016, in Korea’s third largest city. Inaugurated in 1978 in New Delhi, Seoul was the first Korean City to host the event in 1986 and Busan took its turn to host in 2002. With the third games to be hosted in Korea in Incheon, the city aims to captivate the spectators and television viewers from the opening day until the closing ceremony.

The Philippine delegation to the 17th Asian Games will be composed of 204 athletes and officials and will compete in 26 sport events. Team Philippines will be bannered by the Smart Gilas National Basketball Team which made the Philippines proud by winning its world championship game in 36 years at the recently concluded FIBA Men’s Basketball Championship in Spain.

Mr. Richie Garcia, the Chef de Mission of the Philippines to the 17th Incheon Asian Games, believes the Philippines has good chances to win gold medals in the quadrennial sports fest. Gold medals are projected to come from boxing, BMX (cycling), wushu, taekwondo and possibly basketball.

The Smart Gilas will begin its quest to capture one the Asian Games’ most coveted gold medals on 23 September 2014 at Hwaseong Sports Complex Gymnasium. Boxing matches will be held at Soenhak Gymnasium; Wushu and Taekwondo will be both held at Ganghwa Dolmens Gymnasium and BMX at Ganghwa Asiad BMX Track.

All Filipinos in Korea are encouraged to watch the games to boost the morale and spirit of the Filipino athletes. Your presence and active show of support will have positive impact on the athletes’ performance. Lending a home-court feel.

Tickets for the 17th Asian Games may be purchase through telephone nos. 1599-4290 and 1666-9990 or through the websites of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee (a) http://ticket.incheon2014ag.org and http://mticket.incheon2014ag.org