Behind the arduous training and competition of every national athlete is a government sports agency trying to make sure they get all the financial help they need to achieve their dreams.

But for Chairman Richard Bachmann, the Philippine Sports Commission is more than just a “funding agency.”

As an athlete and former governor of the defunct Alaska Aces in the PBA, the 56-year-old sports executive said he and his commissioners try to be more hands-on in supporting the athletes in their respective campaigns of giving glory to the country.

“There’s a fine line between government intervention and private, but we’re right there. As much as possible, we try to get involved with the programs of our athletes to further understand what they really need,” said Bachmann.

Along with Commissioners Bong Coo, Walter Torres, Edward Hayco and Fritz Gaston, Bachmann worked non-stop to allocate and find the budget needed for the country’s qualification and participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics slated to start on July 26.

The PSC has actually alloted P50 million for all the sports trying to qualify for the Olympics since last year, and another P52 million for the participation of the 22 athletes who earned berths to Paris. This also includes donations from different Senators and Congressmen, as well as a portion from the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF).

An undisclosed amount was also allocated to help fund the one-month training of the qualified athletes in Metz, France in cooperation with the Philippine Olympic Committee.

“We’re just here to help out the POC and the athletes as well, making sure that in this Olympics, we’re two steps ahead,” Bachmann said.

“What we’re trying to tell the athletes together with the POC is that we will take care of all the backend of the Olympics so that the athletes can just focus on their training and then performing. Para wala nang problema,” he added.

Bachmann refused to give medal predictions for Team Philippines, but he believes in the capabilities of the athletes to shine bright in the sports’ grandest stage.

“Basta PSC is supporting them 110 percent. Whatever they bring home, all we ask is just for them to give their best efforts and let’s see what happens,” he said.