RP Olympic bets start China training in May

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez yesterday said the first batch of athletes from six sports will leave for China May 30 to begin their training for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"Their training venues are already in place, including their dormitories and other facilities," said Ramirez in a press briefing.

The first batch of athletes going to China will include those from weightlifting, swimming, diving, fencing, gymnastics and wushu (a demo sport in the Beijing Olympics).

"All we need is the complete profiles of these athletes and the coaches, and we’re ready to send them to China on May 30," said the PSC chief, who admitted the delay in the Olympic program.

According to the original plan, the close to 60 athletes from 14 chosen sports should have begun their overseas training last March. But the lack of funds and now the absence of their profiles have pushed the schedule back – to April and later to May.

Ramirez said the absence of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo who underwent a delicate heart surgery last April 9 will not stop the PSC from implementing the training program despite a very limited budget.

"We have already prepared a contingency plan in the absence of the First Gentleman. We don’t consider it a problem," said Ramirez.

The First Gentleman was supposed to lead a fund-raising campaign for the country’s Olympic campaign. But the May 14 elections and recently his health condition have kept him from doing so.

The country, according to Ramirez, would need as much as P250 million in its bid to win its first gold medal in the Olympics, and only the private sector, through the First Gentleman, can help them put up this kind of money.

Ramirez said with the limited resources, they are considering shortening the stay of the Filipino athletes training abroad. The PSC had planned a 15-month overseas training for the country’s top bets.

"Actually, if only I had my way, I would have wanted our athletes to begin their overseas training right after the 2006 Doha Asian Games," said Ramirez.