SPORTS COMMISSION BUCKS ASIAD JUNKETEERS
Manila, Oct. 16, 1998 - Capability to win, not capability to pay one's own way, should be the criteria for selecting who will go to the Asian Games in Bangkok in December, says a top sports official.
Philippine Sports Commission chairman Carlos Tuason wants athletes with little chance of winning medals out of the Philippine delegation even if they finance their own their trips to the Asian Games. Tuason said the Philippine Olympic Committee should stick to the selection criteria and not allow incompetent athletes to gear up for the Games.
"Look, you got the gold and silver medal winners in the past Southeast Asian Games to form the Philippine delegation. That already is quite a loose criteria considering that it's the Asian Games. Liberal na nga ang criteria, luluwagan pa natin. Kung ano talaga ang criteria, 'yun ang sundin natin," Tuason said.
Tuason also disagreed with the scheme of POC president Cristy Ramos-Jalasco which would allow even those who did not pass the standards to join the Asian Games if they could shoulder their own expenses. Such a scheme, he said, would result in incompetent athletes whose performance could bring down the morale of the rest of the team.
"I agree with her stand that maximum participation is a POC commitment to the NSAs. But we came to the point where we have financial problems. Besides, sending even an athlete who is not prepared to such tough competition is demoralizing to the athlete himself, to the whole RP Team and to the country."
He proposed that sports associations instead concentrate in the preparation for the SEA Games next year in Brunei. "Traditionally, the SEA Games is the exposure competition. Kung hindi talaga qualified sa Asian Games, eh di maghanda sila para sa SEA Games."
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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