IATF NOD ON OLYMPIC BETS SOUGHT
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will seek the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the resumption of training of Tokyo-bound athletes and other Olympic hopefuls.
PSC officer-in-charge Ramon Fernandez and POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino agreed it would be best to seek the “exemption” as soon as possible.
“We initiated the meeting with the POC with the good of our national athletes in mind. It’s always been the priority as chairman Butch Ramirez would say,” said Fernandez.
The four-time MVP and 19-time champion in the PBA stressed that allowing the athletes to resume training will provide them the boost in their quest to deliver the country’s first Olympic gold.
“COVID-19 notwithstanding, we must never lose sight of our goal to give our best for our first Olympic gold,” added Fernandez.
The country has so far qualified four athletes to the Summer Games – gymnast Caloy Yulo, pole vaulter EJ Obiena and boxers Eumir Felix Marcial and Irish Magno.
Other Filipinos who have realistic chances of making the cut are 2016 Rio Olympics weightlifting silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, world champion female boxer Nesthy Petecio, skateboarder Margie Didal, taekwondo jin Pauline Lopez and karateka Junna Tsukii.
Fernandez said there’s no assurance that the IATF will grant them their request the way the IATF allowed professional athletes from the PBA, Philippine Football League and boxing to resume training but under strict health protocols.
“We can only recommend, but IATF will have the final say,” said Fernandez.
The PSC identified six facilities at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) in Manila and the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City that may be used for training, including the fencing hall, multipurpose center, strength and conditioning building, and the dormitory training hall at the PhilSports Complex, and the taekwondo and boxing gyms at the RMSC.
PSC national training director Marc Velasco said they are already conducting “massive disinfection” of facilities that can be used for training of the Olympic hopefuls.
PSC-controlled facilities like the Rizal Memorial Coliseum and Ninoy Aquino Stadium were used as COVID-19 facilities.