AUTOMATIC HOF NOMINATION SA OLYMPIC MEDALISTS

BUMUO ang Philippine Sports Hall of Fame (PSHOF) Review Committee ng isang resolution na nag-aapruba sa automatic nomination ng mga Olympic medalist.

Sinuportahan ni PSHOF 2020 Chairperson at Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William ‘Butch’  Ramirez, na nanguna sa virtual meeting, ang inclusion ng napakakaunting medalists ng bansa sa Games.

“Achieving a medal from the most prestigious Games in history is something worth recognizing for a lifetime. They deserve it even without the process of someone voluntarily proving it for them,” sabi ni Ramirez.

Nag-volunteer si Akiko Thomson Guevara, kumakatawan sa Philippine Olympian Association sa Review Committee, na i-produce ang mga pangalan ng lahat ng Olympic medalists sa susunod na pagpupulong.

Mayroon lamang kabuuang 10 Filipino medalists sa kasaysayan ng Filipinas sa Summer Olympics magmula noong 1924. Sa kasalukuyan ay hawak ni Teofilo Yldefonso, ang tanging atleta na nagwagi ng back-to-back Olympic medals noong 1928 at 1932, ang record.

Nais ng PSHOF Review Committee na bigyang parangal ang mga Olympic medalist upang matiyak na hindi sila makalilimutan.

Kabilang sa mga miyembro ng komite sina Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Abraham Mitra, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Secretary-General Atty. Edwin Gastanes, Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines Secretary-General Atty. Avelino Sumagui, at University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Executive Director Atty. Rene Saguisag Jr.

Kasunod ng paglagda sa Republic Act No. 8757 o ang Philippine Sports Hall of Fame Act, “the highest sports award-giving body has enshrined Filipino athletes, coaches, and trainers who made a valuable contribution in Philippine sports since its first induction in 2010.”

Ang nominasyon para sa Philippine Sports Hall of Fame (PSHOF) 2020 ay extended hanggang sa Enero 31, 2021. CLYDE MARIANO