THE Philippines will be competing in two major international competitions, but before making medal projections, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard Bachmann says he is focusing on the short term which is to provide the needs of the athletes.
Bachmann, during his appearance in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum, declined to make projections on the country’s performance in the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia and Asian Games in China this year.
See Hold my salary if athletes' allowances are delayed, says new PSC chair Bachmann
“My focus will be basically short term, focus on the athletes, make sure that their needs are taken care off. That will basically follow. They will perform well,” said Bachmann.
“That’s my short term and I’m not even thinking about how many medals, how we are going to do. Just focus on the athletes, focus on the NSAs if it needs help,” said Bachmann.
Bachmann said he has been visiting the athletes in the one month since he was appointed as PSC chairman, going to different places not just in Manila but also in Baguio and Batangas where a couple of national athletes are housed.
Aside from their athletes’ allowances, Bachmann said his priority is to also fix their dormitories and several other facilities in the PSC as most of them needs to be repaired already.
Bachmann said he wants to attain these goals within the first three months of his term.
“I’m here to serve the athletes and serve the sport, nothing else… Kailangan ko sila makilala. All I see in my office is basically names of athletes of different sports. I told myself that I’ll be going around and meeting the athletes. If I plan to serve the athlete, I should go to them. I don’t want to be that chairman who is stuck in the office and they all go to me,” said Bachmann.
Still, the PSC is also preparing for the SEA Games and Asian Games through recent meetings with the Philippine Olympic Committee board led by president Abraham Tolentino.
Also in his first month in office, Bachmann said NSAs have been assigned to the different members of the board including commissioners Bong Coo, Walter Torres, and Ed Hayco.
Bachmann also said he is set to hire eight to 10 consultants to also help in the day-to-day operations of the PSC.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
