Guidelines on how to help national athletes preparing to see action in future Olympic competitions and international meets are now in the pipeline.
These guidelines will be contained in a playbook that the Philippine Sports Commission will be drawing up after the Tokyo Olympics.
PSC chairman William Ramirez said this after spending two weeks in Japan, where he observed how national athletes competed.
“Gagawin namin ang playbook. These are plans towards the Olympics in Paris, Los Angeles and Brisbane,” said Ramirez in a radio interview.
The PSC chief said he and members of the board will deliberate on the playbook in the coming weeks. This will serve as a direction for athletes, coaches, the national sports associations and the private sponsors in their efforts to assist the government agency prepare for major international competitions.
The PSC chief explained that the playbook will be for the next leaders of the government sports agency to deal with, when the administration changes in the next nine months.
“Kung hindi namin gagawin ito, baka magkaroon ng problema. So it will be an important blueprint for the coming administration,” said Ramirez.
The PSC, which spent P2.7-billion in funds for the training, allowances, international exposure and various competitions of national athletes over the last years, doled out P50 million for the actual Olympic campaign.
The rest were spent for the training and exposure to international meets.
Ramirez said the agency proposes to retain its support on all 19 athletes, who saw action in the Tokyo Games.
The PSC chief said the PSC will also draw on the example of Team HD, which was formed to help weighlifter Hidilyn Diaz win a gold medal.
The formation of a support team for athletes during training and in competition will be part of the playbook as well.
