PSC to seek sports pact with Russia

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino athletes may soon get the opportunity to train with Russian counterparts as the Philippines is set to sign a memorandum of understanding on sports cooperation with the global sporting power.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia is scheduled to leave for Moscow tomorrow to discuss and finalize the bilateral pact with his counterpart from the Russian Sports Ministry. He will also be attending a conference among the world’s sports ministers that’s part of the program of the Association of National Olympic Committee’s general assembly.

“This is similar to our MOU with China and other countries,” said Garcia, referring to pacts with the powerhouse Chinese and ASEAN neighbors Brunei and Indonesia that the Phl government signed earlier.

“We are open and they are open for our athletes to go to their country and train. So that will make our horizon broader in the sense that there are sports in which Russia is strong. We now have more choices as to where to send our athletes and coaches (for training) and also our doctors for sports medicine and sports science (exchange),” he added.

Russia is a traditional power in gymnastics, tennis, chess, and winter sports like ice hockey and figure skating.

Garcia said it will be up to the Philippine Olympic Committee and the various national sports associations (NSAs) to determine which particular athletes will take advantage of the sports pact with Russia.

The Phl earlier renewed sports cooperation ties with China, and is already facilitating the sending of select athletes to various Chinese provinces for training. Officials of the Shanghai Sharks also visited Manila recently to discuss a friendship basketball game featuring the club owned by Yao Ming against Gilas II and PBA selection. 

Later this month, a delegation of officials from China’s sports university and sports science institutions will be coming over to look at the programs of their Filipino counterparts and “see where they can help,” according to Garcia.

The PSC chief will depart for the chilly Russian capital along with Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco, Jr. and secretary general Steve Hontiveros, who will take part in the ANOC meeting.