INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines Olympic Committee has submitted 247 athletes and 132 officials to the Laos Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee with the Olympic body ready to shoulder the expenses of delegation members excluded from the official list of the Philippine Sports Commission.

POC president Jose “Peping'' Cojuangco Jr. on Thursday justified the inclusion of the 94 additional athletes outside of the 153 PSC-approved cast, explaining that a smaller delegation would prevent potential medalists from bringing honor to the country.

Cojuangco also pointed out that excluding young athletes, which were included by the POC, would be detrimental to the objective of the Olympic body on providing a steady stream of athletes in future international competitions.

Based on the criteria set by the PSC and the POC, only gold and silver medalists during the 2007 games in Thailand were qualified to don the national colors.

The chain of meetings between RP chef de mission Mario Tanchangco, who represented the POC, and PSC commissioner Joey Mundo has assembled a 200-strong contingent set to compete in 21 events, 47 of them officials.

But the POC took notice of the consistent improvement of other athletes who failed to meet the standard in the last few months leading to the Dec. 9-18 biennial meet and decided to take them in.

“We added individuals whom we feel has the potential (to win a medal),'' said Cojuangco. ``If we don't give these athletes a chance, especially the younger ones, what will happen to the future?''

“Our athletes (medalists) will get old and nobody with a solid experience will replace them,'' added the Olympic chief.

POC spokesperson Joey Romasanta echoed Cojuangco's sentiments, emphasizing the need to consider the youth component of sending a delegation for the development of athletes.

“Give the youth a chance. If we're going to limit ourselves with the gold-and-silver criteria now, what criteria are we going to use in the Asian Games next year and in the 2011 SEA Games?'' said Romasanta.

Tanchangco, who arrived Thursday from Vientianne, submitted the final lineup of Team Philippines to the games composed of 379 athletes and officials on Wednesday. He said the complete list would be made available to the media Friday.

”There are several pledges from our friends who are willing to support these athletes. We will find ways to come up with the sponsors,'' said Cojuangco.

Tanchangco said the PSC would cough up P70,000 for each member of the delegation, including airfare, accommodations and allowances.

Based on that computation, the POC will have to come up with P12,530,000 for the 94 additional athletes and 85 officials it included to the 153-athlete, 47-official roster of the PSC.

The government sports agency has earmarked P30 million for the participation of the PSC-approved lineup.