CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has already kicked off its extensive preparations for the 25th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos this December.
In a fellowship gathering hosted by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in Parañaque, PSC chairman Harry Angping requested all the presidents and secretary generals of the different National Sports Associations (NSAs) to form a highly competitive squad to the biennial sports conclave.
PSC commissioner and executive director Fr. Vicente “Vic” L. Uy, SVD that they were very glad that many had attended the event because it is their way of reaching out to the Philippine Olympic Commission (POC).
“We are so happy that many had attended the fellowship hosted by PAGCOR, approximately there was a 95% attendance. Of course with the new administration under Chairman Angping, this is our way of reaching out to POC and we are glad that they have a positive response to it,” Fr. Uy said.
Fr. Uy said there will only be 25 out of the more than 40 sports that will be featured in this year’s SEA Games due to the lack of facilities of the host country.
The featured sports include athletics, swimming, wrestling, taekwondo, wushu, karate, pencak silat, judo, boxing, fin swimming, weightlifting, muay thai, lawn tennis, soft tennis, petanque, billiards/snooker, sepak takraw, archery, cycling, badminton, table tennis, shuttlecock kicking, golf, volleyball, and football.
Fr. Uy said that they will only be giving their full support to athletes who have bigger chances of winning a medal, even as he assured that they will still be backing up other NSAs’ that have potential athletes capable of making waves in the multi-sport tilt.
“We will give our full support to all NSAs and their athletes who have greater chances to get medals based on their performances,” Fr. Uy said.
Fr. Uy also took notice of the smooth manner chairman Angping ran the PSC, saying that there were already a lot of changes upon his appointment on the post.
“He ran the agency like a business or corporation. This is okay as long as all the goals and plans will be continued until these will be realized,” Uy said. – Marigold P. Lebumfacil (THE FREEMAN)