PSI pumayag sa o pen tryouts

MANILA, Philippines — Nakipagkita si Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas kay Philippine Swimming Institute (PSI) president Lani Velasco kamakailan upang ayusin ang issue sa tryouts para sa national swimming team para sa South East Asian Games na iho-host ng Pinas sa dulong bahagi ng taong ito.

Naroroon din sina POC Membership Committee Chairman Robert Bachmann na nag-facilitate ng meeting.

 Ilang swimming groups ang nag-aaalala na hindi makasali ang kanilang mga pambato dahil sa hindi sila miyembro ng PSI.

 Sinabi nina dating national swimmers Eric Buhain, Ral Rosario at Susan Papa at iba pang grupo na magsasagawa sila ng sarili nilang tryouts para sa kanilang grupo upang makita kung sino ang mas karapat-dapat sa national team.

“Obviously we should have the best athletes available to us for the SEA Games. That’s why we have always stressed inclusivity in these matters,” ani Vargas.

Kikilalanin lamang ng POC ang PSI tryout results dahil ito ang recognized association ng international swimming federation (FINA) at nagkasundo sina Vargas at Velasco na magiging bukas ang tryouts sa lahat ng clubs sa ilalim ng FINA rules and guidelines.

Sinabi ni Velasco na magiging maluwag sila sa participation at registration para sa mga hindi mi-yembro ng PSI.

“I will even personally assist non-PSI members with their membership applications,” sabi ni Velasco.

 “I’m encouraged by Ms. Velasco’s gesture. We all need to put our misunderstandings and heartaches aside and come together to get the best Filipino swimmers in the SEA Games,” ani Vargas. “There is no need for acrimony and divisiveness. We can work this out. Lani has announced she is willing to do this. I call on the other groups to cooperate and work as one for the country’s interest.”