PSI plays vital role in sports development - Art

Art Macapagal, who is shooting for the presidency of the Philippine Olympic Committee later this month, is on the same page with the Philippine Sports Commission.

The head of the shooting association who will challenge incumbent POC chief Jose Cojuangco in the Nov. 28 polls said the PSC is on the right track with the establishment of the Philippine Sports Institute.

“Another block for building a strong and effective integrated sports development program has been added,” said Macapagal in a statement released to the media yesterday.

He said the PSC, under chairman William Ramirez, “should be commended for addressing the fundamental needs for Philippine sports to develop at a faster pace.”

The PSI, actually launched by a previous PSC administration but seeing its reality only under Ramirez, will be unveiled on Dec. 10 at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City.

It will focus on a wider talent identification program and in providing sports education to athletes, coaches and sports medicine practitioners through the use of a P5 million electronic library.

Programs on sports management, leadership, training and conditioning, coaching and rehabilitation, marketing, management, nutrition, fund-raising, events and facility management are also on tap.

“No doubt the Filipino has sports talent, as proven by the many world champions in various sports that our country has produced. But while many countries have complemented natural talent with science and technology, except for a few individual initiatives, we have had no organized effort to make the benefits of science and technology available to all athletes and coaches, and thus build on the natural ability of our athletes,” Macapagal said.

Macapagal said the absence of such have resulted in the country’s failure to win the elusive gold medal in the 19 Olympics it has participated in, and the PSI “aims to correct this deficiency” in the years to come.

“To be sure, the establishment alone of the Philippine Sports Institute will not bring home the medals, including the elusive Olympic gold. To achieve that, there must be close coordination and cooperation between and amongst the PSC, the POC and the different National Sports Associations (NSAs) to ensure that the needs of athletes, coaches and sports administrators are fitted into the programs of the Philippine Sports Institute,” said Macapagal.