PSC chair: Individual sports may be allowed after ECQ

WITH many local government units in the country already in the general community quarantine (GCQ), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez on Sunday, May 3, stressed that some sporting events will soon be allowed when enhance community quarantine (ECQ) is lifted.

Ramirez said that he has recommended to the Inter-Agency Task Force to allow some individual sports and outdoor activities like golf, running, hiking, badminton (singles event), softball, baseball without tagging, skateboarding, tai chi, kung fu, taekwondo, and online chess.

However, Ramirez said that Philippine sports could not fully resume until a vaccine is found. “We cannot really organize and hold sports the way we used to before Covid-19,” he said.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino also agrees but with the observance of social distancing or even without fans.

Earlier, Ramirez also announced the cancelation of PSC-funded events for the rest of the year like the 10th ASEAN Para Games, Philippine National Games, and the Batang Pinoy.

Last week, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año also said that the government is looking into the possibility of allowing sports undertakings during the GCQ.

He explained in a radio interview that they will be looking into sports that observe physical distancing adding that exercise is also needed to stay healthy and help avoid transmission of the new coronavirus.

But, the DILG chief stressed that this will be under the Department of Health advisory.

He further clarified that sports-related mass gatherings are prohibited under the lockdown rules which include training, games, tournaments, and championship matches.

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