URDANETA CITY – A city official here has asked the government to set up an academy or school for sports similar to the world’s first of its kind Sports University in Malaysia.

Perez was guest of honor and speaker during the opening ceremonies of the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) meet in Region I held at the Urdaneta City Sports and Civic Center on Thursday.

More than 500 athletes from Pangasinan I and II, La Union, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Laoag, Vigan, San Fernando, Urdaneta, Alaminos, San Carlos are seeing action in the meet.

“I doubt if the government can afford to finance that (Sports University). But Malaysia is emerging as one of the more stable countries in Asia. I was surprised to find out that they have a university to exclusively develop sports in their country,” Perez said.

He said he is hoping this might call the attention of the country’s national officials to give more emphasis to sports.

The mayor hailed the ongoing PRISAA meet headed by Dr. Gonzalo Duque, regional chairman, saying that if this was not held, the capable athletes in many tertiary private schools would not have a chance to shine and for their talents to be discovered.

“The athletes in the public schools are better off because they have the Palarong Pambansa with which to took forward. But if not for the PRISAA meet, where will the athletes of private schools go after college? Perez said.

Perez, took the time express elation over the three gold medal harvests, one in billiards and two others in boxing, by Filipino athletes seeing action in the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.

At the same time, Perez called on all local government units throughout the country to have their own sports development program that jibe with the national sport program. (PNA)