SEAG CDM Ramirez: "Make whatever seems impossible possible"

PSC chairman and SEA Games CDM Butch Ramirez assured that the Philippine hosting of the biennial meet will go smooth. PSC (file photo)
By Dugout Philippines

MANILA—With 100 days to go before 30th Southeast Asian Games kicks off, Chef de Mission and Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez proclaimed his support for the different national sports associations (NSA) during the 3rd consultative meeting of Team Philippines on Thursday at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

"Our objectives are bigger than us, so together we will make whatever seems impossible --- possible. It's by continuous conversation that we find solutions," said CDM Ramirez in his opening remarks.

53 out of 59 NSAs were present during the 3rd consultative meeting represented by their presidents and secretaries general.

Most of the concerns raised by the NSAs were about the sport equipment to be used by their athletes on training as well as finalizing the actual playing venues for the Nov. 30-Dec. 11 biennial meet.

Monty Mendigoria, the president of the Skateboarding and Roller Sports Association of the Philippines is one of the NSA heads who brought up his concern on the playing venue of the skateboarding event of the 30th SEAG.

“Ang main problem po namin is the specs of the park event. The contractor gave us the design, basically, a drawing but we were asking for a detailed plan for sections and everything so that we know the depth, the height, the area and everything” said Mendigoria, who was talking about the ongoing construction of the skate park in Tagaytay City.

Skateboarding is one of the sports that cannot be discounted when it comes to the gold medal chances of the Team Philippine, this after 2018 Asian Games gold medalist Margielyn Didal nailed 5th place in the recent 2019 Street League Skateboarding World Tour in Los Angeles, California.

This was so far the highest finish achieved by a Filipino in the prestigious tournament participated in by best skateboard athletes in the world.

“We’re afraid na baka maapektuhan ang kanyang performance at saka yung sure gold medal niya,” added Mendigoria.

CDM Ramirez assured that PSC will keep asking the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) to find a solution on that concern.

“These are the things na titignan ng organizing committee (PHISGOC), PSC and POC. We need to immediately solve the problem. I hope we could find the solution on that skateboarding today. Kung may problema pa yung iba, do not hesitate to call our attention,” said Ramirez.

Meanwhile, PHISGOC president and chief operating officer Ramon Suzara revealed that “despite the delay of the marketing promotions on the SEA Games, we were be able to be resourceful in some and was able to have promos on the billboards now in EDSA and SLEX (South Luzon Expressway) and NLEX (North Luzon Expressway) also. Hopefully early next month we will be awarded with the company who will do the promotion SEA Games. We’ll do our best and with your help, we will promote the games even online or social media.”

Suzara added that the schedule of initial test of facilities at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac for Athletics and Aquatics are scheduled on Aug. 28-Sept. 2 to be followed with the official test events on Oct. 26-27.

The 4th consultative meeting is set next month.

Follow the site on Twitter: @DugoutPH