ON THURSDAY, construction began on the promised seven-story athletes’ dormitory and training facility inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC), providing Filipino athletes with a new home.
The former boxing and pencak silat training location will now receive its most significant improvement, as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richard Bachmann and Senator Pia Cayetano broke ground on the facility.
Photo Courtesy: Philippine Sports Commission | Facebook
The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the building site near the former boxing and pencak silat gym, which has since been dismantled to make room for the new facility, will be an addition to the existing dormitories.
Home away from home
According to PSC Chairman Bachmann and Sen. Cayetano, this new facility will serve as a home away from home for over a hundred athletes as they strive to establish a name for themselves in their respective sports.
“This dormitory will serve as their second home away from their respective families while chasing to build a legacy for the Philippines,” said Bachmann in a press release.
Cayetano, a former national volleyball athlete, explained the motive for establishing this facility. Its purpose is to help raise these athletes and make them globally competitive ones.
“It takes a village to raise an athlete. I really believe that athletes can be the symbol of perseverance and success for this country,” Cayetano said.
“Ito ay proyekto natin with the leadership of Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), your coaches, and my colleagues in the Senate who are supportive of this. We hope to continue to invest in sports for this country.”
Photo Courtesy: Philippine Sports Commission | Facebook
Furthermore, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance emphasized the need of providing additional assistance and facilities for national athletes, such as sports psychology and mental health programs.
“They always say it takes a village to raise a child. It also takes a village to raise an athlete. It really does,” emphasized Cayetano, underscoring the importance of community support on developing these athletes.
Meanwhile, the national training pools for baseball, softball, sepak takraw, indoor hockey, and weightlifting were also present during the groundbreaking and voiced their enthusiasm for the RMSC facilities.
All thanks to the 2024 Paris Olympics, when the Philippines had its highest finish in 100 years, which opened many doors and highlighted the necessity of sponsoring non-mainstream sports.
Carrying the Filipino flag with nothing but pride and glory, these athletes will continue to soar to new heights if the government discovers the ideal way to assist them and their needs.
