Pasay city: The country's hosting of the Karate One Youth League is a sound investment for local tourism and the sport that will pay off dividends immediately and beyond. The event, presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City from May 14 to 17.

According to Philippines News Agency, more than 1,000 promising karatekas from 58 countries are seeing action in the four-day meet sanctioned by the World Karate Federation (WKF). Among those with big delegations are Australia (78), Saudi Arabia (40), Malaysia (47), New Zealand (39), Kazakhstan (27), and the United States and Uzbekistan with 19 each. The Philippines is fielding 201 athletes.

Karate ng Pilipinas Sports Federation, Inc. president Ricky Lim highlighted in a news release the potential tourism boost, noting the expected influx of foreign and local tourists. "Our participants are children. We expect most of their parents to tag along, meaning that we can expect at least double the foreign and local tourists to come to Manila for the competition. In fact, the Malaysian youth team was set to arrive yesterday (Monday) so they can train with our young local karatekas," Lim said.

Officials of the WKF, led by president Anthony Espinos of Spain, and the Asian Karate Federation are also expected to attend, presiding over the tournament. Lim emphasized the cultural and economic opportunities, stating, "We can expect our foreign visitors to use the opportunity to sample the culture, food, sights, and sounds of Manila and outside of it."

The event underscores PSC chair Patrick Gregorio's advocacy that "sports tourism, when properly done, can serve as a major source of income for our country while providing sustainable jobs for those in the industry." Lim also noted the festival's importance for local karatekas, offering exposure to high-level competition without the need to travel overseas.

"Now, our young karatekas and their coaches will not have to go overseas to compete against the best of their peers in their respective age group. This would be more expensive," he said. The event not only provides top-flight karate action but also serves as a significant learning experience, marking a win-win situation for both the sport and local tourism.