Philippines going all out in next SEAG

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco is counting on the support of the private sector as the country prepares for an all-out campaign in the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia.

Cojuangco said the Philippine Sports Commission will always be there to provide the funding but it’s the support from the private sector that will provide the extra push.

“We will be able to rely on sports-loving Filipinos to assist us,” said Cojuangco.

The next SEA Games will be very crucial for the Philippines, which is hoping to improve on its sixth-place showing in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.

The Philippines is hard-pressed to do better next year and gain the psychological advantage when it hosts the biennial event in 2019.

In the last SEA Games, the Philippines fielded more than 400 athletes and managed to bring home 131 medals – 29 gold, 36 silver and 66 bronze.

To do better next year, the POC is planning to field only the best athletes and give them everything they need during the preparations.

The private sector, Cojuangco said, will come in.

“As long as we can show that the money is well spent, the private sector will be there to help and assist us,” he said.

The PSC provides the funding for the SEA Games amounting to no less than P30 million.

But it may not be enough if the athletes are to be given everything they need, from nutrition to equipment and overseas training.

“If we give the athletes everything they need then they know that they have to give their best in return,” said Cojuangco.

Jose Romasanta, the POC vice president, has called on the different NSAs (national sports associations) to put their best foot forward in the next SEA Games.

“The only thing I strongly recommend is that we take a more serious view of how we select and train our athletes,” he said.

“I strongly suggest that all the NSAs take a long serious look at the next SEA Games because we will surely face a formidable opposition,” he said.

Romasanta is also suggesting that a smaller delegation of highly qualified athletes be sent to the next SEA Games.

“We should not use the SEA Games as an exposure for our athletes. There are other tournaments that can provide overseas exposure. It’s not the SEA Games,” he added.