RP in need of backers three months to Doha

The Philippine delegation for the 15th Asian Games is still facing financial constraint barely three months before the staging of the quadrennial games in Doha, Qatar in December.

Top Philippine sports officials bared this yesterday after a brief ceremony starting the countdown for the games slated Dec. 1-15.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez and Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco Jr. said they are continuously knocking on the door of the private sector for financial support as the RP bets enter the last three months of their training.

Ramirez said they will seek the support of generous sponsors like San Miguel Corp., PLDT and Smart, and the Lucio Tan Group of Companies.

These are the top firms which answered the call of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo for support to the RP athletes who competed and won the overall crown in the 23rd SEA Games last year.

But whatever happens, the PSC, the government’s funding arm in sports, has already allocated P30 million for the actual participation of the RP bets to the Asiad. More than 200 Filipino athletes will compete.

"The budget stays. And it’s P30 million," said Ramirez of the fund that will cover airfare, allowances and uniforms of the RP delegation hoping to surpass its three-gold haul four years ago in Busan, Korea.

With Ramirez, Cojuangco and other officials in attendance, the official billboard signifying the couintdown to the quadrennial event was unveiled.

The billboard stands outside the main gate of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. — Abac Cordero