Fund lack forces minor repair on SEAG venues

With a limited budget and minimal time, the Philippine Sports Commission is going to the court of last resort — the "band-aid" solution – to at least ensure the success of the country’s hosting of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games late this year.

William "Butch" Ramirez, officer-in-charge of the sports agency tasked to oversee the preparation and readiness of the venues and their facilities for the SEAG wars, yesterday said they are making do with minor repairs and re-paintings of the tennis courts inside the antiquated Rizal Memorial Complex and velodrome at the Amoranto stadium in Quezon City. The PSC is spending P4.7 million for the tennis courts while some P5 million has been earmarked for the maintenance of the velodrome.

Ramirez also said shooting’s Art Macapagal has also initiated moves to construct a new site in Muntinlupa City where shooting will be held in the biennial 11-nation conclave slated Nov. 27-Dec. 5.

"These are just some of the modest repairs the PSC is doing, of course at a minimal cost because we’re making do with a small budget and limited time," said Ramirez.

While the PSC is busy doing its part, the Philippine SEAG Organizing Committee (Philsoc) is drumming up support to finance the Games which the country is hosting for the third time.

In fact, the Philsoc, headed by Roberto "Obet" Pagdanganan, holds a marketing-press launch today at the Golden Dragon Restaurant along Roxas Boulevard where some 300 sports and government officials, including representatives from 11 participating SEA nations are expected to attend.

No less than First Gentleman Mike Arroyo is gracing the event aside from Ramirez, Pagdanganan, Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco and heads of the various NSAs (national sports associations).

Actually, this will be the fifth time that the Games would be launched, the first in 2003 after the Hanoi edition, in 2004 when President Arroyo officially accepted the country’s hosting of the Games, in mid-2004 when the Philsoc, then under former president Celso Dayrit unveiled the games logo and mascot, and, late last year before the POC election won by Cojuangco.

Ramirez also said they are also starting to refurbish the Rizal swimming pool which will house the ParaGames, a side SEAG event for the disabled athletes.

The troubled Philippine Amateur Swimming Association, ironically, is holding the swimming competition at the Trace Computer School in Los Baños, Laguna.

Meanwhile, Ramirez bared the PSC’s move to transfer some of the national athletes from their cramped quarters at the Rizal Complex to bigger dormitories inside the Philsports Complex in Pasig City.

"I don’t know how swift or soon, but we have identified several rooms at Philsports and we will transfer some 200 of our athletes there," said Ramirez, who ruled out an earlier plan of housing the national players at the International School.

In fact, Ramirez said they have constructed a cafeteria for the athletes inside Philsports worth P1 million with the blessing of Cojuangco.

"That is aside from the nutritionists and some psychologists we’re assigning there to help and assist our athletes," he said.