(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
TAGAYTAY CITY—“Promise me the gold, and I’ll give you the money.”
Philippine Sports Commission Chair Butch Ramirez yesterday challenged leaders of national sports associations to commit themselves to producing gold medals in international meets, especially in the Olympics.
“Give me an athlete who can produce a gold in the Olympics and I’ll [give you] a big amount from my budget,” said Ramirez during the PSC’s directional meeting with the NSAs at Tagaytay Highlands.
“I’m challenging you, give me an athlete for the Tokyo (2020) Olympics aside from Hidilyn (Diaz) and I will tell my board to approve a certain budget,” added Ramirez.
According to Ramirez, Diaz, the Filipino weightlifter who bagged a silver medal in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, has already made a fearless commitment to President Duterte to win the ultimate prize in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Ramirez said Diaz would be provided with a team composed of coaches, trainers, a sports psychologist and physiologist, among others, to pursue her Olympic dream.
The three-time Olympian from Zamboanga City will train for long stretches in Tokyo every year and stay there as early as January in 2020.
“Write me a letter expressing your intention and your willingness to produce a gold medal,” Ramirez told sports officials.