KRISTEL SATUMBAGA

Newly appointed Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard “Dickie” Bachmann took his oath Wednesday, Jan. 4, in Malacañang to oversee the country’s government sports agency.

Bachmann, 54, replaced Noli Eala where he joined Commissioners Bong Coo, Edward Hayco and Walter Torres in mapping out plans for national athletes and coaches under President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administration.

Hayco and Torres had already taken their oaths before Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin last Dec. 28.

Prior to his oath taking, Bachmann reported for work at the PSC office at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila where he visited some facilities, including the coliseum, tennis courts, baseball stadium, swimming pool, multi-purpose gym and squash center.

Bachman and the rest of the board are expected to have their hands full this year with a packed tournament schedule for national athletes that include the 32^nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia in May, the 19^th Asian Games in China in September and several qualifying tournaments leading to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The agency is also involved in various grassroots programs.