Angping questions PASA sanction on sports seminar

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Sports Commission ignited the fireworks for what could be a long battle between the sports agency on one hand and the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association on the other hand as its officials accepted an invitation to be the guest speakers in a seminar not sanctioned by PASA.

PSC chairman Harry Angping and commissioner Joey Mundo will be the guest speakers in the seminar “Sports Realities” set March 21-22 at the Asian Institute of Management Conference Center.

In a communique made available to the Philippine STAR, PASA president Mark Joseph said the seminar is not sanctioned by the PASA since the organizer, RP Swim League, is not a member of the association.

It also warned members that they might lose their membership if they attended the seminar, citing a rule by the International Swimming Association (FINA) that members who attend seminars of PASA non-affiliated members will face sanctions.

The PSL said Angping is supporting the seminar by serving as the keynote speaker. Angping and PSL officials are asking why Joseph is invoking a FINA ruling, which they said was quoted out of context, to disallow a seminar “held for the best interest of the sport.”

Angping earlier questioned Pagcor’s direct financial assistance to PASA – a move that also infuriated cash-strapped NSAs – and formed a swimming task force to scout for talents in Mindanao. He also discontinued financial assistance to Fil-foreigners. (See related story)

The PSC is now the main presentor of the seminar along with RP Swim League.

Lawyer Luz Arzaga-Mendoza will talk on FINA rules while Dr. Ramon Roque, who is also PASA vice president, will be the moderator.

Coaches, parents and athletes who wanted to attend the seminar have expressed fear of reprisal and wanted assurance from the organizers.

The seminar will have as main speaker Canadian-based Filipino coach Wilfred S. Arzaga, who will talk about timely topics, including issues on the club system, grassroots to elite level, and science of recovery.

Invited to the seminar are parents, coaches and the athletes themselves.

Arzaga, a former national swimmer, has been a Canadian coach during the last 40 years.

He is head coach and chief executive officer of the Crescent Swim Club in Ontario, Canada and member of the Canadian and Ontario Swimming Coaches Association and the Coaching Association of Canada. He is a former member of the American Swimming Coaches Association and the World Swimming Coaches Association.

The seminar aims to help parents avoid performance-destroying mistakes that too many parents make, know what to say when the child fails and how to make them rebound quickly, help the child reach his athletic dreams, learn about the principles of peak performance and transform special children into excellent athletes.

Coaches will find in the seminar helpful tips on how to become a better motivator, train athletes to be mentally tough, get parents to work with them – not against them – and know the do’s and don’ts of pre-game psyching.

For athletes, the seminar hopes to help them develop a winning concentration and mental toughness, learn strategies of gold medallists, take their training to the next level and eliminate destructive effects of psych outs and intimidation

Inquiries: Tel. 750-1010 loc. 2058; 0923-2806405; 0917-8210885 or [email protected]