No, EJ Obiena is not retiring. Last week, the Filipino pole vaulter announced that he would be holding a press conference the following Monday, but with no additional information, fans were anxiously speculating that it would be an announcement of his retirement. Thankfully, that’s not the case, as the athlete himself clarified during the press conference. Instead, EJ Obiena delivered good news: a sanctioned world pole vault event right here in the Philippines!

The Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge

During the press conference, EJ Obiena announced that the Philippines will be hosting a World Athletics-sanctioned pole vault event in the heart of Makati called The Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge.

It will be held on September 20 and 21 at the Ayala Triangle Gardens, with the official pole vaulting event scheduled for the 21st. The 20th will feature a pre-event, details of which will be shared soon.

These dates also come right on the heels of the World Championships.

The Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge will follow a street vaulting format. It is officially sanctioned by the World Athletics Continental Tour-Bronze category, aligned with rigorous global standards for competition, athlete eligibility, and event organization. It is also supported by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association and global athletics organizations World Athletics and Asian Athletics.

Who are the participants in this event?

According to EJ, the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge will bring top pole vaulters to the country, but the final roster will be announced as the event approaches.

When asked if he would be competing, EJ confirmed his participation: “Of course I’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss this for the world. This is something I’ve been really pushing. … This event is… It’s almost like a baby of mine that finally I can see through, and definitely, I’m not going to miss this for the world.”

Will there be ranking points at stake in the event?

EJ confirmed that yes, ranking points will be counted in this event.

“We’ve been very humble, but these events are actually quite difficult to be part of the calendar. And World Athletics have been kind enough in Patafa, including Asian Athletics. This is going to be part of the tour,” the Filipino athlete said during the press conference.

“This is in the calendar of World Athletics, and with that, it amounts to certain points, and with that, it will be in the world ranking for sure. If anybody jumps the world record, if we see one, it’s going to be there. And if anybody jumps a national record, everything, it’s going to be up to standard. This is not an exhibition. This is an official sanctioned competition by World Athletics.”

Aside from earning ranking points, participating athletes have a chance to take home a cash prize.

A collaboration

The marquee athletic event is made possible by a collaboration between the Ayala Group’s Atletang Ayala, which helps Filipino athletes compete in the global stage, the MVP Sports Foundation, and EJ Obiena, a two-time World Championship medalist and current Asian Champion and record-holder.

Answering a question on why Ayala is involved in this event, Ayala Corporation Executive Director Jaime Alfonso Antonio Zobel de Ayala said: “There is really one simple reason. We believe in the power of sports. And we believe in the role that it plays in national development. Ayala has been an organization that has always wanted to align with national development goals, and sports is one of the initiatives that drives positive outcomes that we all want to see in society.

On why they chose Ayala Triangle Gardens, he said: “I think it’s also worth mentioning that we are particularly excited about having the event hosted in the Ayala Triangle Gardens. Together with the City of Makati and all supporting stakeholders, we have wanted to invest into rejuvenating Makati as a dynamic and inclusive community.”

How can you get tickets to the event?

The organizers are still finalizing the details. Updates will come in the following weeks, so bookmark this page!

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