President to Ramirez, Uy: Join PH team in Rio

PHILIPPINE Sports Commission chair William “Butch” Ramirez and presidential adviser on Youth and Sports Dennis Uy have been invited to be with the national delegation seeing action in the coming Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Olympic chief of mission Joey Romasanta said Malacañang has requested Ramirez and Uy, owner of the Phoenix Fuel ballclub in the PBA, to represent the government in the world’s biggest sports spectacle.

“I was advised that there’s an instruction from Malacañang for Chairman Ramirez and Secretary Uy to join us in Rio,” said Romasanta.

The Philippine delegation, made up of 12 athletes and 17 officials, will leave Manila for the famous Brazilian city tonight.

“Right now, the accreditation process is off line. It’s already closed,” said Romasanta.

“I’m trying to contact Rio [organizers] and the Department of Foreign Affairs to facilitate their accreditations,” added the first vice president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr. said sending Ramirez and Uy to the Games means the government is very supportive of the athletes.

“The mere fact that he’s (Duterte) sending Ramirez to Brazil means that sports has a soft spot in his heart,” said Cojuangco.

Romasanta said long jumper Marestella Torres-Sunang, taekwondo-jin Kirstie Elaine Alora, weightlifters Hidilyn Diaz and Nestor Colonia, table netter Ian Lariba and swimmer Jessie Khing Lacuna will join tonight’s 11:30 p.m. flight bound for Rio with a layover in Dubai.

Hurdler Eric Cray, boxers Rogen Ladon and Charly Suarez and swimmer Jasmine Alkhaldi will be spared from the 30-hour flight from Manila since they will be coming from the United States. Marathoner Mary Joy Tabal will fly straight to Rio from her training camp in Yokohama, Japan, while golfer Miguel Tabuena is to leave Manila on Aug. 4.