PSC Commissioner Celia Kiram is the special guest in the “Sports On Air” program via Zoom recently.
PSC stays positive despite surge in COVID cases in Vietnam
THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is worried about reports of a surge in coronavirus cases in Vietnam, but still hopes the Southeast Asian Games will push thru as scheduled on May 12-23.
PSC commissioner Celia Kiram said the government sports agency is strictly monitoring the health situation in Vietnam following reports that the 2022 host nation is now experiencing a huge spike in Covid-19 cases with a record-high number of new infections placed at 265,163.
Kiram said national sports associations have already worked hard in preparing the 656-strong national team.
“If you ask me, gusto ko talagang matuloy itong SEA Games kasi sayang naman yung preparasyon ng mga NSAs natin,” Kiram said during the weekly “Sports on Air” podcast recently.
“Pero sa ngayon hindi ko masabi kung matutuloy. But health should always be our priority. Alam din naman yun ng SEA Games Federation at ng organizing committee.Ayaw natin lahat maging parte ng pagdami pa ng COVID,” added Kiram, the only female connissioner in the PSC.
“I’m just hoping na bigla ding bumaba ang mga cases kagaya noong nangyari sa atin. Hopefully bumaba na next week. Let’s pray na matuloy dahil.sayang ang pinaghirapan ng mga atleta at ng mga NSAs sa kanilang mga atleta.”
Kiram said all eight NSAs under her oversight committee have continued their bubble training even during the pandemic.
“Everything is OK as far as the eight sports under my oversight committee. Sa gymnastics, meron tayong bagong gym for them na sinusuportahan ng mga stakeholders gaya ng MVP Group at PLDT. Sa PSC naman ang mga equipment at rental ng venue,” explained Kiram.
“Sa tennis, meron silang isang area na pinagpa-practisan din. Yung canoe kayak-dragon boat, nasa Tacloban na sila nag-bubble training ngayon. Ang triathlon, meron tayong nasa abroad. From time to time, meron silang competitions sa Clark at Subic. Ang table tennis, meron din silang isang venue na pinaglalaruan sa Marikina.. Ang soft tennis, meron din sila aa Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Sa squash, nasa Muntinlupa. Ang dancesport wala din problema sa training kahit nga kahit sa sulok ng bahay, patuloy sila.”
Kiram also confirmed reports that fellow commissioner and SEA Games Chef de Mission Ramon Fernandez has already begged off from attending the CDM meeting due to the current COVID-19 situation in Vietnam.
