In the history of Philippine sports, the City of Manila has contributed greatly in producing athletes that later on played for the national team in various international tournaments.
That is the reason former Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso confidently believes that having a well-organized sports program would help the city produce athletes for the national team.
“We first identify the sports, and these should be sports that we have a strong chance of qualifying for in the Olympics and hopefully win a medal. Then we identify the athletes by organizing a sports event for young athletes here in Manila,” said Domagoso.
“From there we pick the best, those with potential and help them develop their skills. I think it’s doable because we already have a program that will identify talent – those with the possibility of someday joining the national team,” he added.
During the term of the former mayor, the late Ramon Bagatsing Sr., who was in office from 1972 to 1986, he formed the Manila Sports Development Council or MASDEC which oversees the sports development of the youth of Manila.
When the late Mel Lopez took over the city’s leadership in 1987, he changed the name to Manila Integrated Sports Council (MISCO).
In 1998 during the time of Mayor Lito Atienza, it was renamed to its current name –the Manila Sports Council or MASCO. Both the MISCO and MASCO left their marks as they held programs that helped the country’s sports program.
MISCO conducted the Manila Golden Gloves program that produced boxers for the national team during the time of Lopez, while MASCO helped develop some athletes from the city for the 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games.
With the latest performance of athletes in the Paris Olympics, which included double gold medalist and Manila resident Carlos Yulo in gymnastics, it is a perfect opportunity for Manila to have a strong sports program.
“I think we should capitalize on that, as young athletes from Manila are inspired by the success of Carlos Yulo in the Paris Olympics. I’m confident we can develop athletes for future Olympics,” said Domagoso.
Some of the sports disciplines in which the country has a solid shot of earning spots for the coming Olympics include archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, gymnastics, fencing, shooting, swimming, taekwondo, weightlifting, and water polo.
