The Philippine Sports Commission has forged relationships with its foreign counterparts for the country’s grassroots development program.
PSC executive director Guillermo Iroy said Argentina and Brazil have recently partnered with the local sports-funding agency, which has ongoing negotiations with Kuwait and Qatar.
“Our partnership with these countries will boost the development programs of several sports. Aside from the transfer of knowledge, our athletes could gain so much from the foreign coaches,’’ said Iroy.
He said the memorandum of understanding with Argentina and Brazil would focus primarily in football, a sport that gained popularity among Filipinos in recent years through the Philippine Azkals.
Iroy, a lawyer and former football coach, explained the agency would identify areas where the Brazilian style of play could flourish and another area would be tapped to learn Argentina’s brand of competition.
“We’ll determine what city or province should learn the style of the Brazilians and the fundamentals Argentina has been using,’’ said Iroy.
Brazil is the most successful country in the sport with five Fifa World Cups won while Argentina prevailed twice in 1978 and 1986 with the legendary Diego Maradona.
Also opening its doors to Filipino national athletes bidding to shine in the international scene are Russia, China and Iran, among others.
Iroy said the MOU with these nations cover the training of athletes, transfer of technical know-how for coaches and the use sports facilities.
Meanwhile, Hangzhou, China will be the host of the 2022 Asian Games as approved by the Olympic Council of Asia during its general assembly Wednesday in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.