ALTHOUGH their main focus is the 28th Southeast Asian Games, Filipino athletes should also commit themselves to excellence in other international tournaments lined up for the year.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. will be driving home this point in a crucial dialogue with the athletes and coaches starting tomorrow at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Cojuangco expects over 300 athletes and their coaches bound for the Singapore SEAG to attend the three-day conference where training and conditioning will be the main topics.
“We’re only looking at the SEA Games because it’s the most approximate event,” said Cojuangco yesterday. “But I would like every NSA (national sports association) to prepare the athletes in the same manner in any event they will enter.”
Preparations for the SEAG set on June 5 to 16 are already in full swing with the selection committee bent on approving the inclusion of at least 350 athletes from 33 sports to comprise the Philippine delegation.
“I would like to talk to them about the importance of doing things right as far as training is concerned. Conditioning, food intake and their sleeping habits. Other countries are doing this,” said Cojuangco.
Joining hands with the Philippine Sports Commission, the POC is dead serious on improving the performance of Filipino athletes through scientific preparation, including nutrition and mental approach.
“My number one concern isn’t the technology of the sport but the physical conditioning. We had so many silver and bronze medals in the previous SEA Games simply because we lacked the stamina to win,” said Cojuangco.
He pointed out the level of intensity in training should never waver even beyond the biennial meet as Filipino athletes are expected to win medals in future tournaments outside of the SEAG.
“We’ve started this and I think we can sustain it. We have good coaches, what we lack is proper conditioning,” said Cojuangco.
A big number of the delegation will be staying at Philsports in the next five months and their progress will be strictly monitored.