Go wishes PH team well in Tokyo Games
SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go reiterated his and President Rodrigo Duterte’s unwavering support to the Philippine delegation competing in the Tokyo Olympics.
Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, said the President is ready to give incentives to Filipino athletes who will win medals in Tokyo.
The senator had convinced the government to include on the priority list for Covid-19 vaccination the athletes and other delegation members who will be participating in the Games.
The Tokyo Games opens on Friday, July 23, after being postponed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. It will run until August 8.
The Olympics is expected to attract around 11,000 athletes from different countries. According to the International Olympic Committee, almost 85 percent of them have had Covid-19 shots.
Go is optimistic the country’s athletes will finally win a gold medal, the first ever for the Philippines.
An advocate of long-term sports development, the senator has been pushing for measures to protect the welfare of athletes.
As vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go gave assurances the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will get enough funding to support the preparations of athletes for the Olympics and other international competitions. He is calling for an additional P100 million for the
PSC for Olympic preparations.
Go also backed the planned construction of the Philippine Sports Training Center (PSTC) in Bataan. Signed by President Duterte in February 2019, Republic Act (RA) 11214 provides for the creation of the PSTC, which seeks “to promote and develop sports in the country to achieve excellence in international sports competitions, to ensure success in the country’s quest to achieve competitiveness in the Olympic Games and to promote international amity among nations.”
Not to be confused with the National Academy of Sports (NAS), Go said both facilities are the government’s gifts to national athletes. Duterte signed into law RA 11470, which establishes the NAS in June last year. Go was one of the authors and sponsors of the measure.
He also praised Duterte for approving the timely release of the budget for the construction of the facilities and amenities of the academy.
The government released P729 million to cover construction costs including civil works requirements; fixtures, furniture and equipment; and consultancy services.
Go urged promising Filipino athletes to join the NAS’ Annual Search for Competent, Exceptional, Notable and Talented StudentAthlete Scholars. The deadline of submission of applications had been extended from July 31.