Ramirez in pep rally with national bets.
Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez is scheduled to meet members of the national team in a pep rally aimed at boosting the morale of athletes who will see action in various international events starting this year in the Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia.
According to the Ramirez, athletes and coaches of the national team will be treated to “barbecue, music and fun” on Saturday at the Philsport Football ground with the theme “Love of the Motherland”.
However, the gathering could turn into a dialogue with regards to the welfare of the athletes on the issue of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) being up for sale by the City of Manila.
Both the city government and the sports agency have made claims on the 9.6-hectare sports facility, but the dialogue has already reached on the possibility of the PSC “relinquishing its rights” over the disputed venue to Manila if the price is right.
Ramirez has said that his heart is for keeping the RSMC since – in a survey he personally conducted – athletes from different sports are in favor of staying at the historic venue.
Olympian Charly Suarez, who competed in the Rio Games last year, pointed to history as one of the main factors why RMSC should be retained.
“Kapag kasi sinabing Rizal Memorial, maiisip kaagad ng mga tao anjan yung magagaling na atleta ng Pilipinas, yung mga dating atleta at yung ngayon na nasa national team.”
Rubilen Amit of billiards, on the other hand, calls it home away from home since most members of the national team have lived half their lives at the training center that was built in 1934.
“It’s been home to most of us, including me. It has a soft spot in our hearts,” said Amit.
Tani Gomez of men’s water polo shares the same sentiment, since relocating the athletes would be a challenge since most of them are now working or are studying in Metro Manila.
“Sanay na tayo dito sa Rizal Memorial e,” said Gomez, who has been competing in the SEA Games since 2003. “Marami sa members din ng team na taga probinsya, dito na din sa Maynila naka-base.”
But while they are sentimental about keeping the PSMC, Ramirez said that it’s an opportunity for the PSC to get something in return if it agrees to give up its rights, and then use it to build a modern training center – possibly in Clark Field, Pampanga.
For now, though, focus should be on the coming pep rally, which is aimed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that starts in the 2017 SEAG in KL, 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, and the 2019 hosting of the SEA Games.
An alternative venue to be put up in Iba, Zambales, but even the Philippine Olympic Committee has expressed reservation at relocating the Philippine athletes so for away from the Big City.
