More government support in sports urged

MANILA, Philippines - The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) is pushing for more government support in sports, particularly in developing countries like the Philippines.

This was among the issues discussed in the weeklong NOC meeting that drew 700 officials from 250 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), in Acapulco, Mexico.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia represented the country in the important meeting.

“They (ANOC) made it clear that the relationship among the NOC, the government and the different national sports associations (NSAs) must be strong,” Garcia said yesterday.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge as well as the sports ministers for every country were also present.

The PSC chief flew home with Cojuangco last Wednesday but was already at his office yesterday.

“They are putting emphasis on the autonomy of the NOCs, too. But they stressed that the NOC, including the NSAs, should be accountable for any financial support from the government,” said Garcia.

He said developed countries, particularly the Western countries, have an entirely different setup because their NOCs have enough money that they don’t need to knock on the government for support.

In developing countries, this is the common practice where the national government funds the sports program. The ANOC is pushing for more support but said the NOCs must be accountable.

“Once you receive from the government, you become accountable. We at the PSC cannot run the affairs of the NSAs or select their athletes but we can make them accountable,” said Garcia.