29th SEA Games: PSC readies P100 million

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has put a price tag of P100 million for the country’s campaign in the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur in August.

The athletes, numbering 493 as of yesterday, are being provided the finest equipment available and the best overseas training heading to the SEA Games set Aug. 19-31 in the Malaysian capital.

In return, the athletes are being asked to deliver 50 gold medals.

Filipino athletes are now training in countries like Portugal, Thailand, Spain, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Japan and the United States.

The Philippines will vie in 37 of the 38 sports in Kuala Lumpur on Aug. 19-31, and is hoping to do better than its sixth-place finish in the 2015 SEAG in Singapore.

Carlo Abarquez, PSC executive director, said for equipment alone, the government sports agency will spend P59 million.

He said in most cases, the NSAs (national sports associations) drew financial assistance from the PSC, and will procure the equipment themselves.

“The funds are ready and available,” said Abarquez during yesterday’s press conference attended by chef-de-mission Cynthia Carrion, deputy chef-de-mission Robert Bachmann, SEA Games task force chief Tom Carrasco, national training director Mark Velasco and PSC senior executive assistant Ronnel Abrenica.

The PSC will also spend for overseas training, hotel accommodations, airfare, costing no less than P9 million, competition and parade uniforms, plus the allowances and salaries of the athletes, coaches and other officials numbering close to 150.

“(PSC) Chairman (William) Ramirez has promised to support our athletes and he has delivered in that promise,” said Carrion, head of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines.

“We should be at least number four or number five (overall). We cannot be kulelat (tailender),” added Carrion, who has called all the participating NSAs to a meeting on Thursday.

The chef-de-mission wants to make sure that the composition of the Philippine delegation is done and finalized before the June 15 deadline.

Carrion said she’s still getting requests from different NSAs regarding the inclusion of additional athletes but warned the NSAs that inclusions will no longer be entertained after the deadline.

“That’s why I’m calling a meeting on June 8 so we can get it all done,” she said.