While a handful of issues is being ironed out at the backyard of the Philippine Olympic Committee, everything is running smoothly at the end of the chef de mission’s office and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
PSC Chair Butch Ramirez is using his vast experience as chef de mission to keep the country’s preparation for the 30th Southeast Asian Games going and complete the necessary requirements for a successful staging.
“We at the PSC are focused on the things that should be done in time for the SEA Games,” said Ramirez, who holds weekly meetings with the national sports associations (NSAs) involved in running the show and key PSC officials.
The PSC chief explained they are now in the process of bidding the uniforms of the delegation and are working on the final lineup of Team Philippines before the July 30 deadline.
According to Ramirez, the supervision of the athletes’ training is assigned to his four commissioners. And they are tasked to oversee not only the athletes preparing locally, but also those training overseas.
“We have athletes training in the United States, Japan and other places. There are 30 to 40 NSAs whose request for foreign training has been approved,” said Ramirez.
POC president Joey Romasanta and the POC executive board will face the general assembly today at GSIS Main Office as they aim to resolve the internal issues hounding the organization.
“I’m confident that the gaps in the POC will be settled. Meanwhile, we have to regularly consult the NSAs and know what’s going on with the athletes and coaches,” said Ramirez, who, as CDM, led Team Philippines to its first ever overall title in the Games back in 2005.
“We also have to know what kind of opponents our athletes will be competing against in the SEA Games. The CDM and the PSC cannot do this alone, so I’m in constant interaction with the NSAs,” added Ramirez.
Romasanta will next tackle the local Olympic body’s partnership with the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee headed by Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano for a peaceful coexistence in running the Games.