UAAP eyes inclusion of more Olympic sports in calendar

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Board members paid a courtesy call to Philippines Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick "Pato" Gregorio on July 9, 2025, at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. During the subsequent meeting, both organizations reaffirmed their commitment to support the national sports development agenda and explored pathways to deepen collaboration, starting with the possible inclusion of more Olympic sports in the UAAP calendar.

PSC Chairman Gregorio highlighted a significant gap in the athletic development pipeline. He explained that after participating in grassroots programs like Batang Pinoy and Palarong Pambansa, many athletes switch to sports not offered in college competitions, disrupting both their competitive careers and academic progression. He stressed the critical importance of universities and colleges connecting the value chain from grassroots to high performance.

Fr. Aldrin Suan, UAAP finance committee chair and Adamson University vice president, reported that Chairman Gregorio emphasized the partnership's mutual benefit. Historically, the UAAP avoided adding new events due to the substantial financial burden on schools (costing millions per sport). However, with the PSC's support, the league can now introduce new Olympic-aligned sports. Gregorio specifically suggested events like weightlifting and shooting where medals could be produced quickly, and the PSC committed to help fund and initiate these additions, creating a promising public-private partnership.

Suan cited Japan's university-sports structure, where over 60% of Olympic athletes come from heavily subsidized college programs, as a successful model. He stated this setup would strengthen the PSC’s national sports program while allowing the UAAP to fulfill its mission of producing elite athletes. UAAP executive director Rene Saguisag Jr. stressed the league's responsibility to provide structure and opportunity for athletes beyond academics.