All set for PH Team to Asiad

It’s already a go for Team Philippines in the 18th Asian Games as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is set to release the budget needed for the its participation in the prestigious quadrennial conclave this August in Jakarta.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Ricky Vargas reported that the government already agreed to release the P72-million fund after they vowed to return the P10-million financial assistance in the previous Southeast Asian Games last year.

Vargas said the fund remains untouched and they made arrangement with the PSC to return it in exchange for the release of fund needed for the equipment, parade and competition uniform, allowance, hotel accommodation and airfare of 272 athletes in the Asian Games.

“It was given to the POC to pay for the parade uniform in the SEA Games last year. We didn’t spend it so it’s not unliquidated. The money is still with us. It’s still unspent,” said Vargas following the POC general assembly yesterday.

“The chief of mission (Richard Gomez) said there should be no problem in the Asian Games funding. That’s a commitment from the PSC.”

Gomez said preparation for the Asian Games is already in full swing.

In fact, Adidas gave a hefty 50-percent discount for competition uniform on top of two sets of rubber shoes.

They have also finalized the fitting for the parade uniform, which would be designed by Randy Ortiz.

“We have an approved budget of P72 million,” Gomez said. “We worked out the number of athletes with the amount we have.”

Aside from the P72-million government funding, the POC would also solicit from the private sector to boost its war chest for the training and preparation of athletes in the SEA Games next year and Olympics in 2020.