New PSC chief to keep elite athletes roster

THE ROSTER of elite athletes will stay.

New Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia said he will retain the elite cast of 22 athletes, picked by the previous PSC administration, who enjoy a P20,000 monthly allowance on top of guaranteed exposure overseas for future competitions.

“We can never abolish the elite athletes, and we will review the list if there are others who are qualified to join them,” said Garcia.

He said getting into the elite pool is “something they have worked hard for,” and likened the increased allowances for pool members to “raising a salary in the company, one which you can’t just cut.”

The bulk of the elite athletes are gearing up for the Guangzhou Asian Games in November. It includes tennis stars Cecil Mamiit and Treat Huey, chess player Wesley So, tenpin bowler Biboy Rivera, and taekwondo-jins Mary Antoinette Rivero and Tshomlee Go.

At least 267 national athletes get monthly stipends from the agency ranging from P8,000 to P20,000, depending on their credentials.

Garcia also said the agency will abide by any decision of the Philippine Olympic Committee regarding internal leadership disputes in the national sports associations (NSAs).

“As far as the PSC is concerned, only the NSAs recognized by the POC will get support,” he said.

Garcia said this policy will extend to the NSAs which enjoy the backing of the international federation but are not recognized by the national Olympic body like the Integrated Cycling Association of the Philippines (PhilCycling).

“I will leave it to the POC,” he said. “Let them settle which is the legitimate NSA within the POC because it has its own internal regulations.”