Secretary of the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco Jr. will serve as the keynote speaker when the Philippine Sports Institute is formally launched this afternoon at the Philsports in Pasig.
President Rodrigo Duterte was originally the main speaker but he begged off, according to Philippine Sports Commission chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez, the man behind the revival of the institute that was actually a brainchild of ex-PSC chairman Philip Juico.
Dennis Uy, the Presidential Adviser on Sports, has also confirmed his participation.
Other dignitaries invited to attend the affair are the ambassadors of the US, Russia, Australia and China and senators and congressmen, including Manny Pacquiao.
Ramirez believes that the PSI should serve as the missing link in the Philippines quest to win an Olympic gold medal.
“We are lagging behind and the institute, if it can be sustained, will help us realize our Olympic dream,” said Ramirez.
Also expected to play a pivotal role in the PSI’s success is the Philippine Olympic Committee, which will be represented by its inner circle.
Mark Velasco, credited for Hong Kong’s bronze in cycling in the 2012 London Olympics, will serve as national training director.
