POC bats for funding of four major international sports events in 2022

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is pushing for the funding of four major international sports events next year in the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

In a statement Wednesday, POC president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino said that both the House and Senate vowed to include the funding for the Beijing Winter Olympics (February 4 to 20), Thailand Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (March 10 to 20), Huangzhou Asian Games (September 10 to 25), and the Shantou Asian Youth Games (December 20 to 28).

"House Speaker Lord Velasco and Senate President Vicente Sotto III assured the inclusion of the budget for four major international competitions next year," Tolentino said.

"This after the Department of Budget and Management didn't allot a single centavo to the Philippine Sports Commission [PSC] budget for these major events."

Tolentino, also the cycling chief, added that the POC will now determine the composition of delegation for each major event in order to determine how much budget would be needed.

"The budget hearings are coming up so we have to be steadfast," Tolentino said. "Philippine sports must be unwavering as we have to sustain the momentum of our successful campaign in the Tokyo Olympics."

On Tuesday, the POC already said that it will send a 160-strong delegation to the 2021 AIMAG where the Philippines will participate in 21 of the 31 sports.

In the 2018 edition of the Asian Games, the Philippines won four gold medals along with two silvers and 15 bronze plums.

Meanwhile, figure skaters Edrian Celestino and Sofia Frank will be vying for a spot in Beijing through an Olympic qualifier in Germany later this month.

The Asian Youth Games was last staged in 2013 in China, where the Philippines bagged five medals.

—Bea Micaller/MGP, GMA News