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Philippine Olympic Committee vice president Monico Puentevella and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez are hoping to sit down with First Gentleman Mike Arroyo today to tackle the country’s preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The First Gentleman is recovering from a heart surgery more than a month ago, but is now slowly going back to his normal activities. Reports said he had visited his Makati office a couple of times since he left the hospital a few weeks back.

Still, the First Gentleman is not allowed to take visitors especially when he’s resting in the Palace. Only family members and his direct staff are reportedly allowed in, and it may take some luck for Puentevella and Ramirez to see him.

“We are making arrangements. This is all for the good of Philippine sports,” said Puentevella, a congressman from Bacolod City and a close ally of President Arroyo.

Butch Tuason, former PSC chairman and a first cousin of the First Gentleman, recently showed the latter the list of 60 athletes from 15 sports to be placed under a special overseas-based training program for the next Olympics.

The First Gentleman was reportedly surprised with the number of athletes to be placed under the program that would cost around P250 million. He hinted that sports officials should stick to the original plan concerning only a few sports.

“That was the feedback that we got. Only the best athletes from the sports with the best chances of winning in the Olympics should be under the program. They are boxing, taekwondo, and probably shooting and fencing,” said Ramirez.

“If that’s what FG wants then we will discuss it in the next POC General Assembly. We hope to see FG and discuss all these,” Puentevella added.

News of a cutdown on the number of focus sports drew reactions from top sports officials like POC president Jose Cojuangco of equestrian and POC deputy secretary-general Mark Joseph of swimming.

They said the Olympic program “should focus on the athletes” and “not certain sports.” They added that athletes who qualify for the Olympics should be given special treatment regardless of the sport they play.

The 16 focus sports are boxing, taekwondo, shooting, fencing, diving, weightlifting, gymnastics, athletics, tennis, beach volley, rowing, archery, equestrian, swimming and wushu (a demonstration sport in Beijing).