Buhain lauds, rallies athletes for Olympics, 2005 SEAG

Calling them the lifeblood of Philippine sports, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Eric Buhain yesterday gave the athletes two thumbs up for a job well done in 2003 even as he urged them to face the challenges of the new year and 2005, when the country takes its turn to host the Southeast Asian Games.

"Thank you very much for making us, Filipinos, proud to have a fighting core of national athletes like you," said Buhain in his yearend statement to the athletes. " Despite the hardships and the limited resources, you came through it all and gave your best. We also thank you for the fourth place finish in Vietnam (SEA Games) and before we say cheers to the new year, please allow our humble selves to first bow to all of you. Congratulations!"

Buhain also urged the athletes to go for the marbles in Athens, which hosts the Olympics in 2004, and relayed President Arroyo’s assurances to the athletes of continued support in her dream of the overall championship for the Philippines in the 2005 Sea Games.

Close to P13 million in incentives from Malacañang were released by the PSC to national athletes last Dec. 23 for their contributions to the overall success of the Philippine campaign in Vietnam, which surpassed its most recent SEA Games stints in terms of medals won with 48 gold, 54 silver and 75 bronze medals.

"While the athletes themselves say the incentives are secondary to their heroism, the government tries to reciprocate in whatever way it could in giving back to the athletes the support they deserve, including the incentives," said Buhain of the P100,000 given by the President to all gold medalists, P50,000 to silver medal winners and P10,000 for each bronze medal winner.

Buhain also thanked First Gentleman Mike Arroyo for helping the Filipino athletes "up to the last minute (of their Vietnam stint)."

But while the year about to close had somehow been rocky for the PSC, Buhain vowed to continue pursuing the interest of the greater majority of the athletes, with whom he used to belong being a former champion swimmer and athlete of the year the last time Manila hosted the SEA Games in 1991.

"Controversies have been part of our growing up since we joined the PSC from being an athlete and a coach. But while some sectors continue to try to create confusion and sow lies within the sporting community, we will also continue to remain strong and fight for only the truth and what is right," Buhain said.

Buhain expressed resentment over a recent news report that the President and First Gentleman used the athletes to project a very pleasant side of the Presidency for media mileage.

"That is totally unfair because the President and the First Gentleman are sincere in helping the athletes and local sports, in general. It even took a lot of encouragement for Atty. Arroyo to come out in regards to his projects for the athletes," said Buhain.

Buhain also denied a recent statement purportedly made by two chess players, accusing government of issuing post dated checks as incentives to the athletes, saying it is not allowed by the Commission on Audit and could not be done.

According to Buhain, PSC staff worked overtime from Dec. 22-23 to be able to release more than 300 checks to the athletes and considering the timeframe since the main bulk of the Vietnam delegation return on Dec. 15, one week to release the incentives was fast enough since government had to raise the fund from its meager budget.

"We cannot issue post dated checks as claimed by some sectors because it is forbidden. We follow sound accounting practice and they are incentives, not Christmas bonuses as some have wanted to believe. And besides, pinapalabas naman na puro pera na lang ang hinihingi ng mga atleta," Buhain said.

Even the supposed source of the complaint—chess Grand Masters Eugene Torre and Joey Antonio—have denied making such statements.

"We were with the athletes during the PSC Christmas party and there was no complaint. Everybody was happy and I believe them when they said ‘it was a wonderful year to close with a smile and shaking of hands.’"

The PSC chief also extended his congratulatory hand to the national sports associations which he said were equally responsible for the success of the Philippine delegation to Vietnam, and to the Philippine Olympic Committee, its partner in elite sports development.