Team RP to start Guangzhou Games buildup

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Olympic Committee will not waste time setting up the requirements and criteria for inclusion to the RP Team to the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in November.

Jose Romasanta, POC spokesperson, yesterday told the PSA Forum that the Olympic body is looking at the early creation of a secretariat to draw and map out the Asiad requirements.

“The POC wants the secretatiat be formed as of now so it can start assisting the different NSAs (national sports associations) in their needs,” said Romasanta during the weekly forum.

Meanwhile, the Filipino medal winners in the Laos SEA Games will receive the remainder of their cash incentives today in Malacañang.

President Arroyo will personally hand over the checks to the medal winners -- P100,000 each for every gold, P50,000 for the silver and P10,000 for the bronze.

The private sector, through Tagaytay Highlands, Hapee Toothpaste, Pacific Online and Discovery Suites, has also thrown in P100,000 for every gold whether it’s in an individual or team event.

The Philippine Sports Commission has earlier released, from its own coffers, P100,000 to each gold medalist, and will award P800,000 more today to the four Filipinos who broke the SEA Games records in their respective events.

They are swimmers Ryan Arabejo and Daniel Coakley, and tracksters Arniel Ferrera and Marestella Torres.

Romasanta was a recent visitor in Guangzhou and got the chance to look into the developments for the next Asian Games, including the construction of the main venues.

Romasanta met with his counterparts and learned that for the event scheduled Nov. 12-27, there will be 42 sports disciplines on tap, including 28 Olympic sports, and will offer 473 gold medals.

“The IOC (International Olympic Committee) said this is probably the Asian Games with the most number of events. There are 473 golds. If we win the 73, they can have the rest,” he said in jest during the forum presented by Outlast Battery, Pagcor, Accel and Shakey’s.

It’s not yet certain how many events the Philippines will compete in, and Romasanta said this should be tackled when the POC holds its board meeting next week.