THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has opened a Pandora’s box of opportunities for Filipino athletes with Elite Link, serving as the first-ever database app in history.

PSC Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio on Monday night together with Elite Link launched the groundbreaking mobile app that will become a main hub and community aimed at fostering friendship, connections, network, sponsorship, scholarship and national team opportunities for thousands of undiscovered athletes like every social media platform today.

In Elite Link, all athletes from across the archipelago and even abroad can sign up and create their own profile and backgrounds with video highlights of their chosen sports to serve as their resume for a shot at a university scholarship, sponsorship or brand support and national team call-up.

It’s open to almost 2,000 national junior and elite athletes but is targeted particularly at providing a platform for grassroots and untapped young talents just waiting to be discovered, especially from the far-flung areas of the country.

“It will now be our database to identify young talents, who will soon be elite athletes. This central hub for all athletes is for our future. This will be big for all the athletes from around the Philippines to introduce themselves. Elite Link is for the Philippine sports and the Filipino athletes,” said Mr. Gregorio during the app launch with Elite Link led by general manager JP Campos and senior advisor Akiko Thompson-Gueverra, a decorated Filipina Olympian swimmer.

Elite Link will have a profile designation for all Philippine stakeholders for an inclusive, broad and working community, from athletes to parents, coaches, scouts, managers, brands and sponsors, universities and colleges, National Sports Associations (NSAs) and sport officials.

For Elite Link, it’s talent meeting technology in the world’s digital era, making it easier for Filipino athletes to showcase what they’ve got as early as they can with hopes of becoming the next Hidilyn Diaz and Caloy Yulo.

“This is exciting for our young athletes. We try to create an ecosystem for our young athletes where they will be able to be seen, a challenge in the past that’s hard to navigate for starting athletes. They have big dreams but don’t know how to get there. Now, we finally have a technology for them. Athletes will now have an easier way to find a partner for their dreams,” said Ms. Thompson-Gueverra.

“We really wanted to create an equal playing field for all our Filipino athletes, no matter where you are and what sport you want to pursue. With Elite Link, you can share your progress to coaches, scouts, sponsors and institutions that will guide you along the way. You can also connect with fellow athletes,” added Mr. Campos.

The PSC has already started requiring every athlete on its fold to sign up but will officially begin the rollout in the coming 2025 Batang Pinoy in General Santos City later this month featuring more than 20,000 junior athletes and the 33rd Southeast Asian Games this December in Thailand led by a 1,600-strong delegation.

“We will definitely have regional launches, introducing Elite Link in different PSC events starting in GenSan. This will now be incorporated and promoted in all PSC programs as part of a nationwide launch. — John Bryan Ulanday

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