PSC Chair William Ramirez. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
The Philippine National Games will be patterned after China’s biggest homegrown talent discovery meet.
“We want to imitate the China Games where the best athletes from the cities and provinces all compete,” said Philippine Sports Commission chair William Ramirez.
The National Games of the People’s Republic of China is a quadrennial event where China’s top athletes from all sports come from.
Also known as All China Games, the event serves as the springboard for the country’s future Olympic gold medalists.
“Most of the winners in these Games became medalists in the Olympics,” said Ramirez.
Swim-off
The PSC has moved the PNG to May next year after initially setting the Games in Dumaguete City in December. Members of the national team and developmental pool are required to compete in the PNG.
Ramirez said the top performers in the PNG would comprise the national team with the swim-off between conflicting groups in aquatics providing an interesting side event.
Swimmers from both the Philippine Swimming Inc., the association recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Swimming League will race against each other to finally settle the feud that has been bugging the country’s performance in international tournaments.
“We expect a lot of conflict to happen there. By doing this, we will be able to really identify the athletes for the national team,” said Ramirez.
While the PNG was moved to a later schedule, the Batang Pinoy Games will push through on Dec. 8 to 13 in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.