PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez has reiterated that changes which he called “revolutionary” should be done to Philippine sports after the Olympics.

And he does not mind if that will mean not giving financial support to national sports associations (NSAs) who do not support his call or even changes in leadership.

Ramirez did not hide his disappointment to mediamen during a teleconference at the PSC Olympics monitoring group as the country is still medal-less in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This, even as two taekwondo jins—Tshomlee Go and Toni Rivero—are still starting their quest for the gold.

“Matuto naman kaming mahiya sa bayan,” said Ramirez. “May mga 80 to 90 percent na mga Pilipino na gustong makakuha tayo ng medalya sa sports.”

Ramirez had earlier told the BusinessMirror about the changes he intends to introduce from his office to NSAs which have not performed creditably, even those which sent athletes into the 29th Beijing Olympics.

Ramirez said that there would be a “radical meeting” with the PSC and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) after the Olympics.

“Kami ang may accountability sa bayan. Kung nakikita namin na hindi tama iyong patakbo ng NSAs, hindi namin bibigyan ng isang kusing. Tapos na ang kabaitan namin. Gobyerno ang nagbibigay [funds]. Pero ang may responsibilidad sa mga atleta, NSAs din,” Ramirez told sportswriters in the teleconference.

He also does not mind if sports leaders, even himself, would step down if that means it is for the betterment of the country’s sports program.

“Kung kailangan mag-roll ng heads, dapat gawin for the good of the country. Sama-sama kami. Ang tanong diyan kapag natanggal ang tao, maso-solve ba ang problema? Kung maso-solve, dapat umalis na iyong tao....Kung kailangan ang ulo ko, walang problema,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez again said that he will push for higher financial support for “focus sports.” These include boxing, taekwondo, shooting, archery and weightlifting, among others.

Other sports, on the other hand, will be given a smaller allocation compared with the focus sports.

“Baka magkaroon ng maliit na allocation iyong ibang sports. Iyong focus sports, malaki. Iyong mga NSAs na hindi sumusunod, problema na nila kung paano makakakuha ng pera. Hindi puwedeng walang mangyayari dahil may responsibidad kami sa bayan,” said Ramirez.

Efficient spending should be done just like in other countries.

“Wala namang masaya kasi wala tayong medalya. Kung titignan mo ang performance ng ating atleta, hindi masama. Pero tignan mo ang Singapore at Malaysia. Talagang nag-invest sila sa sports,” said Ramirez.

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