William Ramirez, chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), said at least four athletes from each sport where the country has chances of winning an Olympic medal will be selected.

 

Archery, boxing, equestrian, gymnastics, shooting swimming, taekwondo and weightlifting are all expected to receive special funding to help them prepare for London 2012.

 

Ramirez said: “We have to support these Olympic sports.

 

"We will pick out four to five athletes and solidly support them for four years.”

 

Athletes picked for the priority sports will also be backed by the Philippine Olympic Committee during the course of their training.

 

Ramirez said: “It’s a selection to be made by the POC and the NSAs (national sport associations)."

 

The Philippines, the world's 12th largest country with a population of 90.5 million, have competed in every Olympics since Paris in 1924 - except for Moscow in 1980 when they joined the United States-led boycott over the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan - but have never won a gold medal.

 

Their best performances have both come in boxing, where Anthony Villanueva and Mansueto Velasco won silver medals at Tokyo in 1964 and Atlanta in 1996 respectively.

 

Overall, the country has won nine medals, five in boxing and two each in athletics and swimming.

 

With Mongolia winning its first gold at Beijing last year, the Philippines now holds the record for the most medals without a gold.

 

The country sent 15 athletes to Beijing but failed to win a medal.