Sponsors and organizations, who wish to support Filipino athletes in the Tokyo Olympics and future international meets, will need to discuss their roles with the Philippine Sports Commission.
PSC chairman William Ramirez said top officials of the government sports agency are set to meet on this to discuss how private sponsors can come in to lend their support.
“Balak naming kausapin itong mga private sponsors, kasi ang PSC since na-create noong 1980, has been spending billions (on these athletes). At dapat, iyung private sponsors, makipag-coordinate sa amin, kaysa makipaghabulan tayo,” said Ramirez in a recent Facebook Live interview.
The PSC chief added: “Samantalang ‘di pa sikat ang mga bata, ang PSC na ang nagpapadala diyan sa iba’t-ibang lugar sa mundo. Noong sumikat, pumasok ang private sponsor. Kailangan lang nating ilagay sa ayos. The sponsors of these athletes need to coordinate with us.”
The PSC chief said that with good coordination, the agency and the sponsors will be able to discuss the financial assistance that the government provides to the national athletes. This will align with the agency’s funding support with what the sponsors will provide.
Ramirez made an example of Rio Olympics’ weightlifting silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, who is backed by several corporate sponsors.
The chairman believes that the support given to the national athletes needs to be declared by the sponsoring company.
“Kasi, may mga policy kami, na i-declare nila ang kanilang suporta sa mga bata. Anong malay namin, nagbigay sila (sponsor), pero nabigyan na din namin,” said Ramirez.
This, according to Ramirez, is needed because government money from the PSC is involved and must be accounted for by the Commission on Audit.
Because of this, Ramirez said he asked National Training Director Marc Velasco and Executive Director Guillermo Iroy to discuss this matter.
In the Asian Weightlifting Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Diaz missed the bronze medal by three kilograms in the women’s 55-kg category.
With her participation, the 30-year-old Diaz formalized her entry to the Tokyo Olympics, her fourth straight stint in the games.
Diaz has since joined boxers Eumir Marcial, Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena and gymnast Carlos Yulo in qualifying to the Tokyo Games.