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Monday, July 24, 2006
RP Asian Games budget pegged at P30M
DESPITE the inclusion of such team events as football, water polo, baseball and basketball, the budget of the Philippine delegation to the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar slated December 1-15, 2006 will remain at P30 million. No more, no less.
Officials of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) stood firm during the weekend that regardless of how many will comprise Team Philippines in this year's edition of the quadrennial meet the Asiad funds will remain as it is.
"Even before the start, I already felt the P30 million would not be enough. But that has been our stand. No matter the size of the delegation we just have to work on that budget," Negrense commissioner Rithchie Garcia told Sun Star Bacolod in a telephone interview during the weekend.
He said that early last week the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) executive board approved the inclusion of 187 athletes and 107 officials as pat of the RP contingent in this year's Asiad although the said figures could be higher with the addition of the four team events.
Garcia said that right now the POC is considering a 290-strong delegation. "But based on the budget available, the delegation should be about 250-260," he added.
The Negrense PSC official also suggested that for Team Philippines to achieve the ideal number of delegation enough for the P30 million budget, the selection of athletes "should strictly adhere to the criteria laid down by the Asian Games task force" while limiting as well the number of officials.
But Garcia declined to either confirm or deny earlier reports that at least three Negrense athletes are considered as shoo-ins for slots in the RP contingent for the Asian Games -- judoka John Baylon, hammer thrower Arneil Ferrera and boxer Joan Tipon. (HCV)
(July 24, 2006 issue)
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