The Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee agreed to endorse for approval the resumption of training of the four qualified national athletes to the Tokyo Olympics.
The PSC Board initiated a virtual board meeting with POC President Representative Bambol Tolentino and POC Secretary-General Atty. Ed Gastanes on Tuesday to discuss plans to resume training of the Olympic-bound athletes, as well as those who will compete in OQTs.
Both te PSC and POC agree that given the present situation, it would be best to focus on the country’s Olympic bets first — namely boxing’s Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno, gymnastics’ Caloy Yulo, and athletics’ EJ Obiena.
“We initiated the meeting with POC with the good of our national athletes in mind. Lagi ‘yan priority, as Chairman Butch Ramirez always says,” said PSC Officer in charge, Commissioner Ramon Fernandez. He stressed that the board wants to leave no stone unturned to ensure that our Olympic hopefuls can keep their momentum.
“COVID-19 notwithstanding, we must never lose sight of our goal to give our best for our first Olympic gold.”
The PSC, though, was quick to say that the final decision will remain with the IATF.
“We can only recommend, but they have the final say,” reminded Fernandez.
The PSC board has already identified six facilities at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) in Manila City and the Philsports Complex in Pasig City which may be available for training. The Fencing Hall, Multi-purpose Center, Strength and Conditioning Building, Dormitory Training Hall in Philsports, and the Taekwondo and Boxing gyms at the RMSC are also being looked at.
Marc Velasco, the PSC’s National Training Director, informed that the agency will conduct “massive disinfection of facilities on both complexes to ensure the safety of our athletes should they restart training.”
Both complexes of the PSC have three We Heal as One Center between them.
Presently the Multi-purpose Arena in Pasig City and the Ninoy Aquino Coliseum in RMSC have suspected and mild-positive patients, as the Rizal Coliseum undergoes disinfection, inspection, and repairs.
The PSC will next meet with Tokyo Olympics Chef de Mission Nonong Araneta to discuss the POC’s projection on our Olympic bid.
“The POC will know who has and where we have a high percentage of qualifying so we will consult them and move from there,” explained Fernandez.
