THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will hold a pep rally with athletes and coaches on Saturday to officially kick off preparations for the 29th Southeast Asian Games Malaysia is hosting from August 19 to 31.
Sports officials and members of the national sports associations will converge at the PhilSport Football Field in Pasig City not only to celebrate a forthcoming major international competition but also to dialogue among themselves.
PSC Chairman William Ramirez said that the sports agency will allocate P100 million for Filipino athletes’ preparation and participation in the Malaysia Sea Games.
“We have the money to spend for them. The PSC is giving them the support that they need, but we are LAO demanding for good results,” Ramirez said.
Philippine participation deteriorated since the country topped the medals table when it hosted the biennial games in 2005. In the 2015 Singapore edition, Filipino athletes wound up a sore sixth place with only 29 gold medals to show.
Ramirez from sentiment of athletes, coaches and officials about Manila City Hall’s intention to sell the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex to a private developer for P10 billion. The sports complex which was built in 1936 stands as the cradle of Philippine sports.