Philippine Sports Commission chairperson Richard “Dickie” Bachmann will be cheering at the stands when the national athletes shoot for glory in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
Bachmann on Friday told Daily Tribune that he is set to attend the Games to give athletes the moral support they need.
The PSC is leaving no stone unturned in supporting the athletes.
In fact, the agency allocated P250 million for the training and participation of 840 athletes who will compete in 38 of the 49 sports in the biennial meet set from 5 to 17 May in Phnom Penh.
“Yes, I’m going to watch the SEA Games,” Bachmann said.
Having PSC officials gracing the region’s biggest athletic conclave outside the country is nothing new.
The only PSC chiefs who didn’t attend the SEA Games were Harry Angping and Noli Eala.
Angping declined to join the Laos SEA Games in 2009 as he was at odds with former Philippine Olympic Committee chief Jose “Peping” Cojuangco at that time while Eala wasn’t given the chance as he served the PSC only for four months.
But if ever, Bachmann will be the first PSC chief to watch the SEA Games outside the country from start to finish pending his discussion with sports commissioners Walter Torres, Bong Coo, Fritz Gaston and Edward Hayco.
“About my schedule, I’m still figuring it out with the commissioners. It will be hard if all of us will be there,” Bachmann said.