THE accomplishment of the Filipino athletes that installed the Philippines as overall champion in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games was not a miracle achieved overnight.
The feat was at least two years in the making.
“The program began immediately after the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, where we finished miserably at sixth place with only 24 gold medals to show,” Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman and Team Philippines chef de mission William “Butch” Ramirez said in the 30th SEA Games closing ceremonies parade.
“The Philippines didn’t improve on finishing sixth in Singapore, and worse, there were four more golds in those 2015 Games,” added Ramirez.
Ramirez earned a significant niche in Philippine sports—and even in the SEA Games—history following the success of the 2005 and 2019 SEA Games, which were both hosted by the country. He was chef de mission in both editions.
“But regardless of whether I am chef de mission or not, my mandate as PSC chairman is to make sure that our athletes are well taken care of—from their nutrition to billeting to the most important ingredient of all—training, preparation and foreign exposure,” he said.
The PSC, Ramirez said, didn’t hesitate to pour all its resources to the athletes. (PR)