Cash-strapped RP trims athletic team<\/p>\n
MANILA (DPA): The Philippines, hard-hit by the regional
\neconomic crisis, has cut back the number of athletes it will send
\nto the 13th Asian Games in Thailand later this year.<\/p>\n
The cash-strapped Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Thursday
\npraised the Amateur Track and Field Association for its decision
\nto reduce its 7-member team to one athlete, \"long jump queen\"
\nElma Muros-Posadas, for the Dec. 6 to 20 event in Bangkok.<\/p>\n
\"It is a good thing that they are beginning to respond to our
\ncall for prudence,\" said PSC chairman Butch Tuason. \"I hope other
\nsports associations will do the same.\"<\/p>\n
Mario Tanchangco, deputy chief de mission of the Philippine
\ndelegation, said at least 8 million pesos (US$200,000) will be
\nsaved if only 167 qualified athletes and 68 officials are sent.<\/p>\n
The commission had earlier warned some athletes they would
\nhave to pay for their transport to Bangkok.<\/p>\n
Under the current calculations, each Filipino athlete is
\nallotted 61,000 pesos ($1,452) for their air fare, accommodation,
\nuniforms and allowances.<\/p>\n
Go Teng Kok, president of the Philippine Amateur Track and
\nField Association, said, \"We support moves to cut cost,
\nespecially during these hard times\".<\/p>\n
\"We understand the predicament of our sports leaders who have
\nto look for money to support us. Even the POC is having a hard
\ntime coming up with the money from the private sector and we
\ndon't want to become a burden to them.\"<\/p>\n
Sports columnist Rudy Navarro, writing in the English-language
\nnewspaper Tempo, said Go \"deserves kudos for taking the lead in
\nbelt-tightening\".<\/p>\n
The Philippines will only send two swimmers, Ryan Papa and
\nKathy Echeverri, the only ones to make the grade in the recent
\ntry-outs held by the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association.<\/p>\n
Team events such as basketball, rowing and softball will have
\nfull delegations of 12 each. Fencing and shooting, where the
\nPhilippines has strong chances of winning, will have 10 members
\neach.<\/p>\n
More than 10,000 athletes and officials from 43 countries are
\ndue to travel to Bangkok for what has been billed as the biggest
\nAsian Games in the event's 37-year history.<\/p>\n
Athletes will compete for 377 gold medals in 38 events. The
\ndeadline for submitting the athletes' names to Bangkok is Nov. 5.<\/p>\n
Sports leaders in Malaysia have said they will only send their
\ngold medalists from last year's Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta.<\/p>",
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