PSC Working to Allow SEA Games-Bound Athletes Training

While the Calamba training bubble is being occupied by Filipino athletes who are bound for the Tokyo Olympics and those who are still catching the last bus ride to Tokyo, athletes who are set to compete in this year's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Vietnam, are next in line to begin their extensive training.

As said by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Ramon Fernandez on Tuesday, “After our Olympic athletes, our next target is to have our SEAG athletes train soon,”

As of now, the national government, through the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases only allows Olympic-hopefuls to train inside the Calamba bubble but PSC officials are working round the clock to allow SEA Games-bound Filipinos to begin their training. This includes working with various national sports associations (NSA) that already have their respective training arrangements in place that can help national team members with their own training. 

For PSC National Training Director Marc Velasco, "We want to field a competitive team for all scheduled Games. We know how important it is to resume formal training. However, we also find ourselves in unique times at the moment and we work on what we can and are allowed to do," referring to the need for training activities to be approved by the PSC and must be closely coordinated with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). 

The 2021 SEA Games are scheduled from November 21 to December 2, 2021, where the Philippines is targeting a top-three after taking the top spot of the podium in the 2019 edition. PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez is also acting as the Chef de Mission for the Vietnam games. 

Photo is from Rappler