Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Butch Ramirez is confident the country can get multiple medals including the elusive first gold at the Tokyo Olympics set late this month.

“Naniniwala akong may medalya tayo sa Tokyo Olympics. Malamang meron tayong gold, silver at bronze medal,” Ramirez said during Friday’s guesting the PSC Hour program.

Ramirez believed first-timers could pull off surprises in the Games as the medal chances of athletes depend on “talent, coaching, exposure and serendipity.”

The PSC chief couldn’t hide his excitement for the coming Games, knowing that the 19 Filipino athletes who qualified have been working hard along with their coaches.

This edition marks the most number of athletes that PH would be sending since 20 athletes from nine sports qualified to the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Ramirez said their sacrifices and dedication to make it to the grandest stage in sports is not an overnight success.

“Yung makarating ka lang ng Olympics, parang nanalo ka na rin ng gold. It’s priceless to be in an international competition lalo na sa Olympics,” he said.

According to Ramirez, the PSC has spent around P2 billion for tournament exposures and training of national athletes to qualify and prepare for the Olympics.

He also said the country’s Olympic campaign can became a uniting factor for the country, saying: “Sana makatulong sa environment ng Pilipinas. Hopefully, we can unite them. Sana magkaisa ang mga Pilipino dahil sa mga atleta.”

Athletes bound to Tokyo are pole vaulter EJ Obiena, sprinter Kristina Knott, gymnast Carlos Yulo, rower Cris Nievarez, taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa, skateboarder Margielyn Didal, weightlifters Hidilyn Diaz and Elreen Ando, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, shooter Jayson Valdez, swimmers Luke Gebbie and Remedy Rule, golfers Juvic Pagunsan, Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan, and boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Irish Magno.