PSC receives P5M sports equipment from China

MANILA, Philippines – The Chinese Embassy today donated P5 million worth of brand new sports equipment to the Philippine Sports Commission as part of the two countries' renewed partnership amid the tension caused by the tug-of-war for the Scarborough Shoal.

No less than Pan Peng, head of the Chinese Cultural Council, turned over the equipment to PSC chair Richie Garcia, an after effect of the memorandum of understanding the two have recently signed.

The equipment should benefit the country's government-funding agency's grassroots development program as well help make it easier for athletes in some sports to train in preparation for the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar late this year.

 "These will go a long, long way," said Garcia, who was accompanied by executive director Atty. Guillermo Iroy, in simple turnover rites at the agency's administration building in Manila.

"It just shows that there is cooperation in sports between our country and China and we will do our best to make our relationship stronger through sports," he added.

The four sports disciplines that directly benefitted from China's donations were wushu, table tennis, weightlifting and athletics.

Donated were two rolls of carpet flooring, five table tennis tables, a set of weightlifting barrels, 12 pieces of rubber plates, a barbell bar, two barbell locks, three pieces of crossbars, 30 pieces of shot put, 20 sets of javelin, 40 pieces of hammer throw and 30 pieces of discus throw.

And Garcia hopes there will be more.

“This is the first time China donated equipment to us,” added Garcia. "Aside from the equipment, we'll probably get some coaches and trainers to help us train aside from us using their facilities in China."

"We will try our best so that these donations will not be the last. We hope that the friendship and cooperation with the Chinese Cultural embassy and the PSC will continue for the good of both in sports," said Pan.