CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, PAMPANGA—The Department of Tourism (DOT) will host the 41st World’s Strongest Man competition in May this year.
The announcement was made by Secretary Wanda Teo during the press conference of the 22nd Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta on Tuesday, February 6, 2018.
According to the DOT chief, “The 41st World’s Strongest Man will push the Department’s thrust for more sports and adventure tourism for 2018.”
First in Asia
The contest began in 1977 and was first held in California, USA. It has been the tradition of the strongman contest to hold the event during summers in the USA and in the UK during December. This will be the first time in its 40-year history that the event will be held in Asia—in the Philippines, in particular.
The competition qualifiers will be on April 28 until May 1 with the finals on May 5 to 6. More than 30 athletes from all over the world are expected to join the tournament.
Teo added, “All of the major events for the World’s Strongest Man will be open to the public and it is free.”
Tourist destinations like Ilocos Sur, Davao, and Iloilo will play host to the competition’s car lift, airplane pull, and truck pull events, respectively. The two-week sports event will be shown in CBS Worldwide, reaching 470 million households in 70 countries.
Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
Meanwhile, Aerosuperbatics WingWalkers will headline this year’s Hot Air Balloon Fiesta’s lineup of aviation sports and aerial activities.
The Aerosuperbatics WingWalkers performance involves acrobatic maneuvers on top of vintage biplanes while the planes are doing aerobatic routines.
The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta will open air on February 8 until 11 at Omni Aviation Complex, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.