Metro Manila, Philippines – Filipino athlete EJ Obiena announced that there will be a World Athletics-sanctioned pole vault competition in the Philippines in September.
“The Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge” will be held at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati on Sept. 20 and 21, Obiena announced Monday, July 7.
“This is something that I really want to showcase the ability of the Philippines to host such an event… Hopefully, this is just going to be a spark to get the engine going, maybe get more international competitions in the country,” Obiena said in a virtual news conference.
Obiena said he will be one of the competitors.
“I’ve competed all over the world — I mean, a home crowd is just different,” he said, stressing that there will be an “all-time high pressure” to perform in the event.
There are no details yet on ticket selling and the other athletes competing in the event, which will be conducted in a street vaulting format.
As officially sanctioned by the World Athletics Continental Tour-Bronze category, athletes will earn ranking points, with the winner bagging a cash prize.
The international meet will be just five days after the pole vaulting final of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
