By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Noli Eala firmly believes that modernizing the successful Project Gintong Alay program of the 80s would create more Olympic gold medalists and world champions like Hidilyn Diaz and Carlos Yulo.
Eala plans to revive the so-called godfather system of the 1980s where private sectors are heavily involved in funding the training and participation of elite athletes.
But with over 50 National Sports Associations (NSAs) to date compared to a handful several decades ago, Eala said the goal is to pool private funding that will be channeled towards specific programs created by the PSC.
These include basic infrastructure and science-based technology, to name a few, that would create a winning formula for sports.
“Pinakita na ni Hidilyn (Diaz) at Caloy (Yulo) ang blueprint of success: there’s coaching, sports psychology, sports nutrition, proper infrastructure… If I can build that program by harnessing the support of the private sector into the blueprint, then we can create more Hidilyn Diaz and Caloy Yulo,” Eala said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA Forum) Tuesday, Sept. 6, at the PSC grounds.
“Everything starts with a vision, with a plan. We are all allies and partners in bringing forward the agenda of Philippine sports.”
While the agenda is to create more elite athletes, Eala said strengthening the grassroots program is also essential.
This would include fostering partnerships with local government units and other agencies that are capable of using their own platforms to disseminate sports programs.
“The goal is to create an ecosystem of sports. Everyone will have to be brought in, there must be a buy-in to the program. This is the vision. A festival of sports,” Eala said.
Eala hopes for the PSC Board to be completed to move forward with these visions and plans. At the moment, President Bongbong Marcos has so far tapped bowling legend Bong Coo as one of the four Commissioners.
