Hard work and dedication — not simply luck — were the key components of the country’s success in sports for the past years as far as Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Butch Ramirez is concerned.

“Yung golden year na sinasabi natin sa sports, hindi yung tsamba. Pinaghirapan yun ng mga atleta at coaches,” Ramirez said in Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum held face-to-face for the first time in two years at the PSC Compound.

The past two years have been more than productive for Philippine sports. There was Hidilyn Diaz winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo and the most successful Olympics campaign where the PH won one gold, two silver and one bronze.

The year also produced heroes and heroines in gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo, golfer Yuka Saso, cue master Carlo Biado, netter Alex Eala and pole-vaulter EJ Obiena.

Just last month, the country also finished fourth overall in the 31st Hanoi Southeast Asian Games – their best effort outside Philippine soil.

Ramirez said the collaborative effort of various agencies and committees played a pivotal role in helping the athletes achieve their goals in the international scene.

He hopes the next PSC chairman under the next administration would sustain this support in order to reach greater goals such as more Olympic gold medals in the 2024 Paris Games.

“If we want to sustain this momentum, we have to provide money, support, good governance and sports science to our athletes,” Ramirez said.

“The next chairman would also have to be adapt to the changes in time. Hindi tutulug-tulog. Dapat alam yung mga pagbabago sa budget, sa coaching, sa medical... lahat.”

But most of all, Ramirez said the next chairman must also possess the passion for sports, not only at the elite level but also in the grassroots.

“Appoint somebody who is in love with sports, who has time to listen to the athletes and coaches’ needs, who understands the environment, who is demanding but forgiving and humble,” Ramirez said.