Finding the Next Champion

PHILIPPINE SPORTS COMMISSION CHAIRMAN RICHARD BACHMANN IS CHARGING AHEAD WITH A BOLD AGENDA TO IMPLEMENT TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGES WITHIN THE NATIONAL SPORTS AGENCY, ALL AIMED AT BETTER SUPPORTING FILIPINO ATHLETES.

Dressed in his favorite pair of Jordan Nikes, former basketball star and sports executive Richard “Dickie” Bachmann is poised for one of his most significant challenges yet: leading the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in the quest to discover the nation’s next Olympic champions.

For the former Alaska Milkman, this endeavor is about more than just funding; it’s about fostering proactive programs, nurturing grassroots development, and forging stronger collaborations to support our national athletes. “The PSC must evolve beyond being merely a funding agency for national sports associations (NSAs),” Bachmann asserts. “I envision the PSC as an active partner in elevating sports in the country, fully grasping its role as the national sports agency.”

Aware of the limited time at his disposal, Bachmann is fervently advocating for institutional reforms within the PSC, committed to turning this vision into reality.

A SPORTSMAN IN THE PSC

Appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as chairman of the PSC in December 2022, Bachmann officially took his oath of office on January 4, 2023. Given that his appointment is coterminus with the president’s term, the former Green Archer acknowledges that the next four years may not be enough to realize his ambitious vision. “For me, one term is simply not enough,” he admits. “There’s a multitude of issues to address, from upgrading facilities to enhancing our programs and supporting our staff. Completing this work will require significant time and effort.” Bachmann is aware of the urgency of his mission, and is striving to implement changes at a rapid pace. “I’m pushing hard, often to the annoyance of my executive director and staff,” he confesses. “But it’s essential. I need to drive these initiatives forward for the benefit of our athletes.”

Part of Bachmann’s game plan was to engage with the agency’s most valuable players—its dedicated employees—upon taking the helm of the PSC. His leadership approach is both collaborative and consultative, as he understands the importance of tapping into the extensive experience of long-serving PSC staff to effectively meet the needs of national athletes and sports stakeholders. After a year of careful observation and dialogue, the chairman began implementing changes. His first priority was to advocate for the Department of Budget and Management to establish more permanent positions within the PSC. Currently, many staff members are employed under contracts of service, while others are appointed by incoming chairs and often depart when their appointing officer’s term ends. Bachmann identifies this instability as a significant barrier to the agency’s ability to institutionalize its programs, activities, and projects effectively.

“We have capable staff members on contracts of service, but they’re unable to transition into permanent positions due to a lack of available roles,” Bachmann explains. “My goal is to provide these employees with pathways to secure permanent positions and opportunities for advancement within the PSC.”

With this vision in mind, Bachmann’s next step was to establish a solid foundation for long-term programs. He expresses concern over the transient nature of many agency initiatives, which often shift with the changing priorities of each new chairman. “That’s a major reason we struggle to make consistent progress,” he admits. “Each chairman brings their own set of ideas. One might initiate a series of programs, only for the next chairman to come in and completely overhaul such. My hope is to create a cohesive framework during my tenure that my successor can adopt and build upon, rather than starting from scratch.”

Another key reform Bachmann has championed is the acceleration of the procurement process. Drawing on his extensive experience in the corporate sector—as former chair of the Philippine Basketball Association’s 3x3 League and a former team governor of the now-defunct Alaska Aces—he finds the cumbersome government procurement procedures particularly frustrating. “We have numerous items related to facilities that urgently need to be procured, yet the process can stretch on for six months for a single item,” he remarks. “In the corporate world, when we make a decision, we act swiftly to procure what we need. This inefficiency simply isn’t acceptable in sports.”

AN ATHLETE FOR ATHLETES

The son of former Olympian Kurt Bachmann, Dickie— as the chairman is affectionately known—considers himself an athlete first and foremost. Since taking office, he has dedicated even his weekends to traveling across the country, engaging with local executives about their sports programs. The true reward for this demanding routine comes from the athletes themselves. “When I meet an athlete who tells me this is the first time they’ve felt real change at the PSC, it inspires me to work even harder. There’s so much more to achieve for our athletes and all sports,” he shares.

For Bachmann, grassroots sports development is the key to discovering the next champions like gymnast Carlos Yulo and weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz. Last year, the PSC successfully revived the Philippine National Games and the Philippine Youth Games, also known as Batang Pinoy, both of which had been suspended due to the pandemic. These national events have historically produced sports champions, including Olympic gold medalists Diaz and Yulo. However, before these athletes can shine on the world stage, they must be nurtured at the local level. This is where partnerships with local government units and sports organizations become vital. A robust network of local sports advocates, including collaborations between schools and community sports programs, plays a crucial role in identifying and training young talents from the outset.

As head of the national sports agency, Bachmann goes around the provinces to engage local government units (LGUs) in local sports development programs. These grassroots programs are the building blocks to discovering and developing global sports champions. “We believe in engaging in local sports development programs. If the PSC is invited to local sports events, we listen and check on those programs in person so we could get a feel of how the PSC can help or support them in their advocacy of using sports as a tool for community building,” Bachmann says.

THE POWER OF EXPOSURE AND COLLABORATION

As a former assistant coach in the PBA, Bachmann does not shy away from acknowledging Filipinos’ tendency to gravitate toward a handful of popular sports. In his discussions with LGUs, he often finds that many requests are focused solely on building track and field facilities. Bachmann believes it is time to broaden our horizons and critically assess which sports are truly relevant to each community. “Let’s identify which sports thrive in your area and build facilities to support them,” he urges.

He also emphasizes the importance of exposing Filipinos to lesser-known sports. Currently, the PSC oversees 80 different sports disciplines, and to cultivate our next generation of champions, it is essential to move beyond the mainstream and introduce children to a diverse range of activities. One initiative aimed at achieving this is the PSC’s Laro’t Saya (Play and Fun) Program, which features a sports exhibit and demonstration events designed to showcase a variety of lesser-known sports. “If we can spark interest through sports exhibits like Laro’t Saya, we can anticipate a significant increase in participation in our major grassroots sports programs,” Bachmann asserts. “Currently, many parents—especially in the provinces—tend to focus primarily on basketball and volleyball. But my advice is to explore the vast array of sports available in the Philippines. We have 80 different sports; by trying out various activities, their children may even find themselves on the national team in the future.”

While grassroots initiatives sow the seeds of interest in aspiring athletes, the PSC is now turning to national sports associations (NSAs) to identify individuals with the potential to represent the country at a national level. “It has always been a collaborative effort between the NSAs and the PSC,” Bachmann acknowledges. “They possess a deeper understanding of their respective sports, allowing them to make more informed decisions when selecting athletes. The way to enhance the state of sports in our country lies in trusting and collaborating with institutions and organizations that share a genuine passion for athletics.”

FUNDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE

The remarkable achievements of Philippine athletes at the Paris Olympics have propelled interest in sports to unprecedented heights, particularly in gymnastics and pole vaulting. Although EJ Obiena narrowly missed out on a podium finish, his outstanding performance ignited a wave of enthusiasm for a sport that many Filipinos were previously unfamiliar with. This surge in interest presents a valuable opportunity to secure funding and support for the development of future athletes. By capitalizing on this newfound excitement, stakeholders can foster a stronger athletic culture and nurture the next generation of sports stars.

“Exposure and awareness of the different sports in the country contribute so much to increasing support for our athletes, like how the Olympics did for our Filipino Olympians,” says Bachmann.

This, however, doesn’t mean the PSC’s annual budget has increased enough to meet the needs of all 80 sports it covers. In fact, according to Bachmann, they need at least a 100% increase in budget to properly fulfill the agency’s mandates and deliver services. “Let’s put it this way, in 2019, we had 36 sports. Right now, we have 80 sports but our funding has remained the same. So the sports doubled, but the funding is the same. That’s a big discrepancy right there,” laments Bachmann.

To supplement their budget, the PSC resorts to lobbying in the Senate and the private sector. But while the support is there, the funding is not always enough. And hard choices have to be made in the meantime. “I would rather focus on sports that we’re good at and pour the funding there. And then maybe minimize the funding on sports that are new and not an Olympic sport, that we are not actually good at yet. I say ‘yet’ because Filipinos actually adjust right away and we can actually compete in such sports in the future,” he says.

Bachmann reveals that discussions are already underway in Congress regarding the potential establishment of a Department of Sports, aimed at more effectively addressing the funding and implementation challenges faced by the PSC, among others. However, he acknowledges that this ambitious initiative may not come to fruition during his tenure.

But while that remains to be seen, Bachmann is focused on building better facilities for national athletes, including a sevenstory dormitory inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. “In my first few months in the agency, I checked the status of the athletes' facilities and the venues we have. The dormitories were in a poor state, which isn't good for our athletes. They deserve better bedding and living spaces. At the end of the day, the performance and well-being of an athlete always depends on the living conditions of the athlete,” says Bachmann. Aside from dormitories and sports facilities, Bachmann also eyes building regional training centers in the provinces. Most athletes who want to up their game come over to training centers in Manila. But one problem young athletes find hard to surmount is homesickness, with many abandoning their dreams to go back home. By building training centers nearer to these athletes, Bachmann hopes to fuel their passion much longer and develop a sports-loving community. “This isn't just for our athletes already in the national team or the national training pool, but also for the public who have a passion for sports. If we can provide our athletes with a safe and sound living space, a better venue, as well as well-functioning sports facilities for the locals, then we can attain one of our goals in building a better community with the spirit of sports,” he says.

BEYOND FUNDING

After observing Filipino Olympians compete in Paris, Bachmann seized the opportunity to analyze the other sports in which our athletes did not qualify, reflecting on the significant strides still needed to compete at the highest level. He believes that a crucial area for improvement lies in the development of high-performance training programs for targeted sports, under the guidance of world-class coaches. This strategic focus, he contends, is essential for elevating the caliber of Filipino athletes and enhancing their competitiveness on the global stage. “We have trainers that give our athletes basic training. But when we hire foreign coaches, they question, like, ‘why are we doing this? I don’t need this for squash. I don’t need this for tennis.’ So right now, the instinct is focus training on focus sports,” he says.

Bachmann firmly believes that the Philippines is home to a wealth of young athletes with the potential to become the next Yulos and Diazes. Their work ethic and fervent desire to showcase their talents on the world stage are undeniable, creating an atmosphere ripe for nurturing future champions. “Right now, if you look at the athletes, they want to show everyone that they can. It’s just that we lack the support in the Philippines— be it facility, be it training, and training abroad. But once we actually fix all of that, consistently winning medals on the world stage, that will be my ultimate,” Bachmann says.

THE HEART OF AN ATHLETE

Despite his ambitious goals, it is hard to imagine that the former PBA star initially turned down the PSC chairmanship. He admits it was a challenging decision, as he had no prior government experience. However, after some contemplation, he ultimately accepted the role. “Witnessing the athletes firsthand and recognizing the urgent need for change in Philippine sports motivated my decision to step up,” Bachmann explains. “I didn’t want the PSC to merely function as a funding agency; that felt uninspiring to me. Instead, I aim to engage actively with the programs of the national sport associations, participating in their grassroots initiatives to ensure that their strategies align effectively with their respective sports.”

As a former athlete, Bachmann considers it a tremendous honor to collaborate with athletes, NSAs, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and local sports stakeholders across the provinces. “It is both a significant responsibility and a profound privilege to give back to the country through my passion for sports development,” Bachmann shares. “There’s much to anticipate in the future, and I hope everyone continues to support the evolving sports development programs in our nation. To truly enhance our sports landscape and uncover the next generation of Olympians, we need collective support. The PSC, POC, and NSAs cannot achieve this by themselves; success in sports requires collaboration and unity from all parties involved.”