PSC seals key sports deal with Russia

THE PHILIPPINE Sports Commission has struck a deal with Russian minister of sports Vitaly Mutko, allowing Filipino athletes to train in the former capital of the Soviet Union, a sports superpower before its breakup in the early ’90s.

PSC chair Richie Garcia said the memorandum of understanding covers the training of athletes, knowledge transfer for coaches and the use of Russia’s ultramodern sports facilities not found in the Philippines.

Garcia said combat sports wrestling and boxing as well as shooting and weightlifting would benefit from the MOU.

Garcia and Mutko signed the MOU during the Association of National Olympic Committees (Anoc) executive council meeting held last week in Moscow, Russia.

With Garcia in the five-day congregation were Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and POC secretary general Steve Hontiveros.

“Aside from the training of athletes and coaches, we’ll be exchanging ideas and programs on sports medicine and sports science,” said Garcia. “They [also] offered exhibition games pitting the Russian basketball team with our national team.”