Ramirez eyes revival of sports institute

NEWLY installed Philippine Sports Commission Chair William Ramirez witnessed how the Australian Institute of Sport had brought success to its national team.

On his first day in office, Ramirez will again begin working on the Philippine Sports Institute where young talents will be nurtured to provide a strong and steady flow of elite athletes for the national team.

Ramirez’ successors discontinued the PSI right after his previous stint as PSC head, during the time of President Gloria Arroyo

“I tried to pursue it, but it didn’t push through,” said Ramirez. “Now I will do it in six years.”

Ramirez said the PSI, which he initially put up at Philsports, is a school for talented young athletes identified by the government sports agency from the provinces and the countryside.

He intends to replicate the success of the Canberra-based AIS, which is credited for majority of Australia’s triumphs.

Done under the AIS are research and implementation of sports science and sports medicine apart from nutrition, strength and conditioning that hugely benefit the progress of their athletes.

“Our group has to really go to the provinces, find those children with potentials and send them to school for scholarships,” said Ramirez. “The sports institute will take care of that.”

According to the PSC chief, the key to the PSI’s success is to hire a very good headmaster and the best possible faculty to produce exceptional student athletes.

“We are now pressured to really craft a very good national sports strategy and the PSI will be a vital component in the program,” said Ramirez, who will work with commissioners Charles Maxey, Arnold Agustin, Celia Kiram and Ramon Fernandez.