Go pitches program for world-class Pinoy athletes
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Thu, 04 Apr 2019 04:05:52 +0000
CALASIAO, Pangasinan: Former special assistant to the President and 2019 Senate candidate Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go renewed his pitch for improved and long-term sports development programs targeting athletes in the grassroots.
Go made the call after gracing the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) All-Star Game at the Calasiao Sports Complex here.
The former SAP, an adopted son of Pangasinan, also joined PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial and organizers of the tournament in awarding the outstanding PBA All-Star players.
In December last year, the provincial board passed a resolution adopting Go as a son of the province.
“The talent of our Pinoy athletes is truly amazing. Like majority of our kababayan (countrymen) I am also a fan of the PBA,” he said.
Go headed the Philippine delegation last year for the Asian Qualifiers games as part of the World Cup campaign of the Gilas Pilipinas team.
He was also instrumental in brokering an agreement among all stakeholders that led to the deployment of a team in the 18th Asian Games in August last year.
But Go lamented that while the Philippines was widely-recognized as a sports powerhouse, particularly in basketball in the 1950s, the country’s sports performance had been on a steady decline.
“A firm support from the government to develop the innate skills and talent for sports among the young Pinoy is necessary. If I would be lucky [to be elected], I would push for long-term sports developmen program in the grassroots,” Go said.
As part of his legislative agenda for long-term sports development, Go proposes to establish sports and youth development centers in every local government unit nationwide.
Based on Go’s proposed program, such centers would provide the youth not only with free sports training, but use of equipment and other important life skills such as entrepreneurship to teach the youth values of sportsmanship, discipline and team work.
In addition, Go envisions the conduct of annual national sports caravans to improve the national athletes pool and increase as well the incentives for sports competitions not presently covered by law.
In running for the Senate, Go had vowed to support the programs and policies of President Rodrigo Duterte, including the campaign against corruption, criminality and illegal drugs.
The post Go pitches program for world-class Pinoy athletes appeared first on The Manila Times Online.