PSC fields PH delegation in 2019 Games revival

After its 8-year absence, the Arafura Games is back this year and will welcome an expected 15,000 participants in Darwin, Australia when it reignites the flame on April 26.

The Philippines, through the Philippine Sports Commission, is sending a lean and mean 120-man team of athletes and coaches to compete in the 10-day multi-sports event.

Marc Edward Velasco, PSC’s National Training Director and the delegation’s deputy chef de mission says that the agency is fielding bets only in 10 out of 17 sports in the Games’ calendar, including para athletics. “PSC Chairman William Ramirez’s instruction was to send a strong team, to select the best among our players in the developmental level,” Velasco said.

More than 97 percent of the athletes hail from Mindanao, with Davao City sending the most with around 70. Other local government units fielding athletes are Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Davao del Norte, General Santos and Palawan.

Winners of the Philippine National Games, Batang Pinoy and Palarong Pambansa composed the country’s delegation to the Games.

Velasco said that there was a rigorous selection process that was undertaken to choose the delegates.” He also explained that this is part of the agency’s “sports pyramid” where athletes from the grassroots level were provided opportunities to test their mettle against global counterparts. “Although the Arafura Games is a friendly competition, the level is high given the number and skills of the competitors they will be facing. It is a good exposure.”