Senator Christopher ‘’Bong’’ Go, chairman of the Senate sports committee, on Tuesday, June 29 said he is prodding health authorities and experts to regularly assess the pandemic situation amid the possible cancellation of the 2021 Summer Olympics set to be held from July 23 to August 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.

Go made the call as increasing anxiety is felt around the globe towards the COVID-19 Delta variant which has been reported to be more contagious.

In an interview right after attending the launch of the Malasakit Center in Masbate Provincial Hospital in Masbate City on June 28, Go said that the government would continue to assess the situation with utmost priority for protecting the health of Filipinos.

“Habang papalapit na po ang Tokyo Olympics sa July 23, timbangin po natin ang kapakanan, buhay, at kalusugan ng bawat Filipino. Isaalang-alang po natin parati na delikado po itong COVID-19, especially with the Delta variant (As the Tokyo Olympics approaches, let us weigh the welfare lives and health of every Filipino. Let us take into consideration the risk of being infected, particularly the Delta variant),’’ Go said.

On Saturday, June 26, protests took place in Tokyo, calling for the 2021 Olympic Games to be cancelled due to the possible COVID-19 outbreak in Japan. Another major issue expressed by several of the protesters was the vaccination situation in Japan as reports claim low immunization rates.

Go emphasized, however, that the health and well-being of the athletes and all Filipinos would always be the government’s top priority.

“A lost life is a lost life forever. Importante sa akin ang buhay (Life is important). . Pwede naman nating ipagpaliban ‘yan kung kakailanganin (When needed, participation in the Olympics could be postponed),” he added.

Earlier, Go successfully appealed to the government to include in the priority list for COVID-19 vaccination the Filipino athletes and other delegates who will be competing or participating in the upcoming Olympics and the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, both this year.

Go assured that his committee, in coordination with health authorities and experts, continue to monitor developments and measures against COVID-19 especially amid emerging variants.

“We will continue to monitor the situation especially the Delta variant na sinasabing four times more contagious,’’ he said.

“We cannot afford to risk the lives and health ng ating mga atleta, ng ating mga kapwa Pilipino of our athletes, our fellow Filipinos ,” he added.

But while nothing is official yet regarding the cancellation of the Games, Go said that the athletes must continue to prepare and train in a safe manner in accordance with health standards.

He observed that there is still that possibility of the Games getting cancelled as lives are more important.

An advocate for sports development, Go has been pushing for measures to protect the welfare and promote the betterment of athletes towards the country’s sports renaissance. Previously, he assured his support for the planned construction of the Philippine Sports Training Center (PSTC) in Bataan.

Signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in February 2019, Republic Act No. 11214 provides for the creation of the PSTC which seeks “to promote and develop sports in the country, to achieve excellence in international sports competitions, to ensure success in the country's quest to achieve competitiveness in the Olympic Games and to promote international amity among nations.”

Not to be confused with the National Academy of Sports (NAS), Go said that both facilities are the government’s gifts to national athletes. President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law RA No. 11470 which establishes the National Academy of Sports in June last year. Go was one of the authors of the measure.

He also praised Duterte for his approval of the timely release of the budget for the construction of the facilities and amenities of the NAS. The government released a total of P729 million to cover the construction costs, including civil works requirements; fixtures, furniture, and equipment; and consultancy services.