IOC representative urges NSAs to be more self-reliant

MANILA, Philippines - The International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines yesterday called on the different national sports associations (NSAs) to be more resilient.

“Be more self-reliant,” Frank Elizalde, who may be on his way out as IOC representative to the Philippines, told the Philippine Olympic Committee general assembly.

Heads of the different NSAs, numbering close to 50, were present at the assembly held at Wack Wack. The next time they meet will be on the last Wednesday of January.

Elizalde said the NSAs should find ways how to sell their respective sports, and attract support from the private sector as some of the NSAs have been doing.

Elizalde was speaking in the aftermath of the country’s sixth-place finish in the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia. It was the worst finish for the country in years.

Top officials from the POC and the Philippine Sports Commission said the problem lies on the funding, and Elizalde hinted that it’s about time to get rid of this excuse.

“You can’t expect much from the government,” Elizalde added.

The government has far bigger problems to solve than the budgetary problems hounding sports, and putting the blame on the government will not solve the problem.

“We understand that,” said Elizalde of the government’s inability to provide enough for the close to a thousand national athletes and 45 NSAs.

He said it was sad to hear that the Philippines failed to send a representative to the taekwondo competition of the 2012 London Olympics.

Elizalde said it’s a reflection of the state of Philippine sports.

“We are very depressed. But we assure you this will never happen again,” he said.

The PSC can only afford P30 million for the country’s participation to the recent SEA Games, and the amount was only good to fund more than 300 athletes.

The private sector came in, led by PLDT/Smart big boss Manny V. Pangilinan, to help send more athletes to Indonesia.

source | By Abac Cordero | The Philippine Star

Posted in: Other, Philippine sport commission, Pilipinas sports