Stressing that there is no other activity that builds one's character better than sports, President Marcos emphasized that the government must play its part in contributing to the improvement of Filipino athletes.

"I have an idea about the sacrifices that our athletes make. And the government has to be part of your support group," Marcos said during the reopening of the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

He stressed that if the government truly considers the good things sports does for the betterment of an individual, it must not allow its athletes to only rely on their informal support groups, which usually involves their parents, schools, coaches, and team.

"That's why government, if we truly consider this important, government has to play its part.  We cannot depend on the informal support group that most athletes get," Marcos said.

"And so, that's why it's very good to see this because when athletes are training for a specific match, a specific tournament, a specific game, they have to be, everything about the preparation has to be complete. They have to be able to rest well. They have to be able to eat the proper food. They have to be trained properly.  If they get an injury, we must have competent sports medicine to help them overcome their injury and be able to train again, to be ready for the next matches," he added.

"And I know that this kind of facility will be so important and will help our athletes do better in their international competitions, even local competitions, in all their competitions," the President further said.

The Chief Executive vowed that while athletes continue to bring pride to the Philippines and inspire young people, the government will continue to support them "by saying, we are here, the government is here.

"We are working to make sure that you have all that you need para maging maganda naman, maging matagumpay ang inyong mga maging competition kahit saan man kayo pumunta (to succeed in your competitions wherever you go)," Marcos said.

The President also underscored that sports helps an individual to be a better person, thus, the government is bent on bringing sports back to schools.

"[T]here is no other activity that builds character better than sports, there is no other activity, especially for young people. Dahil manalo-matalo (Because win or lose), it helps you become a better person. Hindi biro ang mag-train sa sport (Training for a sport is no joke)," Marcos said.

Aside from character, there are a lot of things people learn when participating in sports, Marcos said. That was the reason he ordered to bring sports back to schools.

"All of the things you learn when you compete in sports, even at a low, at a decent level, sa mga bata pa lang, mga intramurals, basta sumasali ka sa sport, lahat 'yan (at young age, in intramurals, when you participate in sports, all of that) will teach you how to be a better person," Marcos said.

"And that's why I think that it's important to bring it back to schools. So that all our kids, kahit na one day a week lang, meron silang dalawang oras na tumatakbo, tumatalon, naglalaro, even competing with one another, para maramdaman nila 'yan (even just for a day per week, they have two hours to run, jump, play, even competing with one another, so that they can feel that)," Marcos added.

"Without that, we miss out on a great deal of life lessons that will not be learned by our children. Those life lessons that we get from sport. And that's why to see these new facilities, these new arrangements that you have done for our athletes, is something that brings a great deal of joy to my heart because our athletes really should be supported," the President went on.

Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos led the reopening of the PhilSports Complex, which features reconstructed and newly refurbished facilities, including athlete dormitories, a sports museum, an athlete dining hall, and sports offices.