Bachmann, PSC board vow to fill major gaps in athletes’ program
THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will not stop looking for ways to serve the Filipino athletes better and prepare them for international competitions, including the Hangzhou Asian Games in September.
“There are rooms for improvement,” PSC chairman Richard Bachmann told Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Bachmann talked about his experience in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games and how he witnessed the Filipino athletes compete and deliver 58 gold, 85 silver and 117 bronze medals.
He stressed the importance of providing the important needs during the competition itself like separate rooms in hotels where physical therapists can attend to the athletes.
“We need ultrasound and laser machines. I didn’t find any. We should bring our own machines. We will make improvements for the coming Asian Games,” he said.
“The key is for the commissioner in charge [of certain sports] to understand the sport and how to improve the sport,” Bachmann said. “We’ll ask for a budget for that. The PSC will step up.”
Joining Bachmann in the forum presented by San Miguel Corp.,
Milo, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. were PSC commissioners Olivia “Bong” Coo, Fritz Gaston and Edward Hayco.
All three commissioners reiterated the need to upgrade the training facilities for members of the national pool, put up a nationwide grassroots program and find ways to strengthen the selection process for international competitions.
“We need to upgrade the facilities so the athletes don’t need to train elsewhere overseas,” said Coo, a legendary bowler. “And they need more exposure, too.”
The PSC also plans to consult with the different national sports associations that were represented in Cambodia and find out where and how some of them failed to deliver.
Gaston, a former Philippine Basketball Association player like Bachmann, echoed Coo’s statement.
“We are athletes, we know their needs. We need to provide better and more competitive facilities. But we also have to be critical in terms of selection,” he said.
Hayco, meanwhile, pushed for grassroots development, and hoped that his success with the Cebu Sports Commission can be carried over nationwide.