FG’s condition won’t hinder Olympic buildup

The blueprint for the country’s bid to win the elusive first Olympic gold medal will go on as scheduled.

Philippine Sports Commission chair William "Butch" Ramirez made this assurance yesterday after apprehensions on the country’s Olympic program were raised following Monday’s open heart surgery of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, the chief backer of the RP Olympic buildup.

"We’re confident the First Gentleman will recover fast. I’m personally praying for his full recovery," said Ramirez. "Our basic plan for our Olympic training program is already in place so I don’t see any problem there."

Ramirez said their meeting on Monday will push through as scheduled with Arroyo’s chief of staff, Juris Umali-Soliman, attending on his behalf.

The meeting is expected to name the athletes from 14 sports who will get funding from the government through the help of the First Gent aimed at winning the country’s first gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Arroyo was rushed to the St. Louis Hospital in Baguio City over the weekend after experiencing severe abdominal pains and was transferred to the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City where he underwent heart surgery.

Ramirez said earlier the first batch of athletes from diving, wushu, fencing, weightlifting, gymnastics and swimming is set to leave late this month to train in China.

Boxing, track and field, taekwondo, archery, shooting, lawn tennis, equestrian and beach volleyball are the other sports to be funded by the agency while basketball and badminton are also being eyed to be included in the program.

Through the First Gentleman Foundation, Arroyo raised P160 million for the training of the national athletes for the 2005 SEA Games where the Filipinos emerged the overall champions for the first time.