The Philippine Sports Commission is going all out, making sure that all bases are covered when the national athletes march to the 19th Asian Games.
PSC chairman Richard “Dickie” Bachmann said they will be deploying a team of doctors, nurses, masseuses, and physical therapists to take care of the national athletes in the prestigious continental event that will formally unwrap this Saturday at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center in China.
A former manager of a professional basketball team and corporate executive, Bachmann knows the importance of having a reliable support crew.
‘From doctors to masseuses, we’re going extra for the athletes.’
In fact, during the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, his first international competition as a PSC chief, he witnessed first-hand how the Filipino athletes struggled due to the lack of adequate medical and treatment facilities.
Now, Bachmann is making sure that the PSC will have everything that the athletes need to make them perform in their best condition.
“From doctors to masseuses, we’re going extra for the athletes,” said Bachmann, who will be flying to Hangzhou on Sunday together with a lean and mean team of PSC employees who will serve as part of the support staff of Team Philippines.
“The PSC will also have its own Medical and Scientific Athlete Services there and a small PT room for the athletes so that in case if the machines aren’t enough there, then at least we are ready.”
Bachmann added that he doesn’t want their previous experience in Cambodia to happen anew.
“I’ve experienced the Cambodia Southeast Asia Games so I felt something was lacking like the machines and I do not want to rely on the host country to provide the PT machines so we’ll bring our own,” he said, adding that the agency will provide the medical experts their respective service vehicles to ensure their mobility in providing the needs and taking care of the athletes.
“They will also have their own cars so that they can go around to other areas, which is around 250 to 300 kilometers. All bases are covered so no excuses for the PSC in coordination with the POC (Philippine Olympic Committee).”
The Philippines will be sending 395 athletes who will compete in 37 sports in the biggest and most prestigious sports spectacle in Asia.
Leading the charge will be pole vaulter EJ Obiena and skateboarder Margie Didal together with other elite athletes like Olympic standouts Hidilyn Diaz, Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio, Eumir Marcial and Kayla Sanchez, who will be making her debut for Team Philippines.
Bachmann said the POC is also doing its part in taking care of the athletes.
“The POC has a dozen machines ready but the PSC will have two more PTs, doctors, and masseuses. The key is having the machines and medicine available,” Bachmann said.
“My only issue right now along with other countries is the visa. I’m asking the help from the POC and from the people I know to sort it out.”
He said the key to avoiding any untoward incident is preparation.
“They say that the SEA Games is different from the Asian Games because the Asian Games is a step higher,” Bachmann said.
“But we don’t want to rely on that. We’ll bring our own. It’s always better to over-prepare than to under-prepare.”
