POC, NSAs accountable for gov’t aid

The Philippine Olympic Committee and the national sports associations under its wings should be held accountable for every peso spent from the coffers of the government.

Philippine Sports Commission Chair Richie Garcia received this piece of advice from top officials of the International Olympic Committee and the Association of National Olympic Committees during the 1st World Olympic Sport Convention held in Acapulco, Mexico, recently.
    

Garcia said the IOC and Anoc encouraged all NOCs  and the NSAs under it to practice autonomy but at the same time be held liable for the financial support from the government.
    

The PSC chief arrived Wednesday afternoon after joining POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and POC secretary general Steve Hontiveros in the Oct. 18-24 convention attended by IOC president Jacques Rogge and 250 NOCs from around the globe.
    

“We can’t run the affairs of the POC, including the selection of athletes,” said Garcia. “But if they ask for funding, the PSC has the right to demand accountability.”

Garcia said Anoc is pushing for government support in sports. The PSC is the sports-funding arm of the government.  June Navarro