Angping ups Olympic, Asiad ante

MANILA, Philippines - After meeting with several NSAs (national sports associtions) the Philippines Sports Commission has identified the first three athletes who will be considered elite and will soon start receiving monthly allowances of P20,000 each from the government agency.

Chairman Harry Angping of the PSC, in consultation and close coordination with the NSAs, is eyeing a new batch of elite athletes to receive bigger attention heading into the Guangzhou Asian Games in November and the London Olympics in 2012.

Cecil Mamiit and Treat Conrad Huey from tennis and Biboy Rivera from bowling have passed the grade. From now on, they will get monthly allowances never experienced by national athletes before, and a choice of international exposures on a quarterly basis.

The PSC has more athletes in mind to be part of the elite pool but has yet to meet with the NSAs they represent – like Marestella Torres of athletics, Annie Albania of boxing, Miguel Molina of swimming or Marie Antoinette Rivero of taekwondo.

Angping said the list could eventually include 50 athletes.

“Then the PSC will start spending more on these athletes. Aside from the bigger allowances, they can go out of the country on a quarterly basis, they can train overseas if they want or hire foreign coaches,” said the PSC chairman.

For the coming Asian Games alone, Angping said the PSC may spend P200 million on 100 athletes whom it feels have decent chances of landing a medal in the quadrennial event.

“It’s a big amount but if you look at it, it’s not really too much. Our neighbors spend more for their athletes,” he added.

A member of Angping’s special monitoring team – Tina Santos – said athletes who will not initially make it to the elite pool will still have a chance as long as they show great improvement in the months to come.

After all, Angping said this program is not only aimed at the coming Asian Games but also for the 2012 London Olympics and onwards. He said it’s a long-term plan of identifying the country’s best talents and giving them what they deserve.

“If you want them to perform well, you must give them what is due them,” he said.

Athletes who will be part of the Asian Games pool but are not yet considered elite will continue to receive monthly allowances of P15,000 each.

“As they prove their worth, they get more from the PSC. As I’ve said, the PSC is willing to spend millions, in allowances, training and incentives, on these athletes as long as they keep on winning medals for the country,” said Angping.