In preparation for the Sydney Olympics and other future international competitions, the Philippine Sports Commission and the Laguna government have joined hands in financing the education and training of national swimmer Lizza Danila in Australia.
PSC chairman Carlos Tuason bared this yesterday in the PSA Forum at the Holiday Inn Manila Pavilion after agreeing with Laguna Governor Joey Lina in sponsoring Danila's stay at the Victorian Institute in Melbourne for three years to develop the 17-year-old tanker's skills.
But Tuason said the move isn't concentrated on Danila's bid in the Sydney Olympics but also in the 2002 Pusan Asian Games and the 2004 Athens Olympics.
"Lizza has already shown her worth after qualifying in the Olympics but we have to be more realistic. Six months is quite a short time because it may not be enough (to win a medal) so we're targeting other future international events like the 2002 Pusan and 2004 Athens Games," said Tuason.
Almost five months after qualifying in the Olympics with a silver-medal finish in the 1999 Brunei Southeast Asian Games, Danila is expected to improve to the level of competitiveness of Singaporean swimming superstar Joscelyn Yeo, who also went to train in the same camp the Filipina lass will be attending.