More sports added to PSC-POC nat’l games

THIS year’s Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission National Games will have a record number of 47 sports to be played in various venues around Metro Manila, according to the organizers.

Ten sports will be added to the calendar including golf, ice skating, futsal, underwater hockey, diving, windsurfing, motocross, bowling and indoor hockey. PSC lawyer and games head Jay Alano said the number could even increase by the time PNG unreels in May.

That is because of the available facilities in the Big City, which became the last-minute venue of the Games after Lingayen, Pangasinan, backed out in the last minute citing their own preparation for the national elections in May.

Alano said they have already met several national sports association heads to make sure the event will feature as many sports as possible. The main venues will be the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and the Philsports Arena.

There are also plans to have satellite venues in and around Metro Manila.

PSC chair Richie Garcia said the change in venue is a blessing in disguise because the agency would be able to save money because they will no longer transport the entire organizing team and the facilities from RMSC.