The Philippine Sports Commission will channel the money it will save for sending a small delegation to the Southeast Asian Games to the training of athletes and the hiring of foreign coaches for an even bigger meet.
PSC chair Richie Garcia said the money will be used for the country’s preparations for the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
The PSC has earmarked P30 million for the country’s participation in the SEA Games but might spend less than that in the light of Myanmar’s slating of 60 events unfamiliar to Filipino athletes.
“All the money that we can save in the SEA Games will be realigned for the Asian Games,” Garcia said.
Garcia, however, clarified that the delegation size will still be the call of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
“But we don’t want to be criticized for wasting tax payer’s money,” added Garcia. “Let’s not focus too much on the SEA Games. There are other international events where our athletes can compete.”