The President will do the honors of presenting the Athlete of the Year award in the men’s and women’s category during the formal Awards Night to be attended by PSA members, top officials of the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, national sports associations and sports organizations, corporate sports sponsors and government sports leaders.
This is the second time that the Chief Executive has been invited to grace the awards rites of the country’s oldest news organization, which is also honoring gold, silver and bronze medal winners in the recent Asian Games in Busan, South Korea and other winners in international sporting events outside Asia.
Mrs. Arroyo was also the main guest of honor in last year’s PSA Annual Awards where she presented the Athlete of the Year awards to billiards champion Efren "Bata" Reyes and Fil-American golfer Dorothy Delasin as well as to major awardees in various sports.
PSC chairman Eric Buhain personally delivered the PSA’s formal invitation to the President.
Heads of state who had graced the PSA Annual Awards, the most prestigious event in Philippine sports, were former Presidents Ferdinand Marcos, Cory Aquino and Fidel Ramos.
Former President Joseph Estrada was represented by his son, then San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, in 2000.
Red Bull and Photokina are the main sponsors of the Awards Night with support from San Miguel Corp., Samsung, PSC, Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
The PSA’s regular members will choose the top male and top female awards in secret balloting next week.
The PSA executive board will approve the final list of major and minor awardees and is now reviewing nominations for special citations which will be given out to corporate entities that contributed to grassroots development and funded national athletes’ foreign exposure during the year.
Sports greats who died during the year will receive posthumous awards while sportswriters who also have distinguished themselves in other fields of endeavor will receive special awards.