Garcia wants new Asiad task force

NEWLY INSTALLED Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia yesterday said he will call for the creation of a joint task force with the Philippine Olympic Committee for the Guangzhou Asian Games in November.

“We have a very short time left (to prepare for the Asiad),” said Garcia, a former PSC commissioner who was appointed the ninth chair of the 20-year-old agency recently.

“We must accelerate (Asian Games) preparations. But I know the NSAs (national sports associations) are already doing their jobs,” the 64-year-old Garcia said after a visit to the PSC offices at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex yesterday.

With Garcia, a golfing buddy and close friend of POC president Jose (Peping) Cojuangco Jr., during the ocular inspection were new commissioners Buddy Andrada, Chito Loyzaga and Jolly Benitez and incoming executive director Dina Bernardo.

The fourth commissioner is holdover Akiko Thomson, a former swimmer who is abroad.

Garcia said the number of the athletes to be sent to the Guangzhou Asiad on Nov. 12-27 will depend on two major factors.

“We also have to consider the budget and then the qualifications,” said Garcia, adding the new PSC team will be an “active board.”