WHETHER the ill effects of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) global pandemic continue in 2021, the Senate Committee on Sports headed by Senator Christopher "Bong" Go gave the green light to the Philippine Sports Commission's (PSC) P207 million proposed budget for next year and the next stop would be the approval of the Senate plenary.
Go, being a sportsman himself, recognized PSC's efforts for steering the country's overall championship victory in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games 2019 in the Philippines.
"We ended 2019 on a high note because of that monumental win. Thanks to you and our national team," Go was said during the committee virtual hearing that also had Senators Imee Marcos and Nancy Binay in attendance.
Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez along with Commissioners Ramon Fernandez and Charles Raymond A. Maxey represented PSC along with Acting Executive Director lawyer Guillermo Iroy who presented the P207-million budget proposal breakdown, which was earlier approved by the Department of Budget and Management.
However, the national sports agency is appealing for a separate P250-million budget to cover expenses for the country's preparations and participation in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam.
The country is also expected to compete in the Paralympics, Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Asian Youth Games and the Asian Beach Games.
As we already know, most sports competitions were canceled this year due to the pandemic. The Olympics and Paralympics were not even spared.
Once PSC's budget proposals get approved, it would be a great relief not just for the agency's top brass but more so for the athletes and coaches who will have nothing else to focus on but to train and get ready for action despite the prevailing restrictions.
Yet, the wait and see or the uncertainty of whether the games push through in 2021 remains the greatest challenge. The pandemic has taught us and is still teaching us to be patient, which is a real battle for most of us.
Patience, a great amount of it, is certainly what we all need at this time of crisis. And patience, too, delivers the most favorable results whether in tournaments or the race of life.
To our athletes who have yet to compete, having been sidelined by Covid-19 for seven months now, never give up! Happy waiting!