President Rodrigo Duterte is hoping that student-athletes who will be admitted to the National Academy of Sports will become “well-rounded” Olympians who can bring pride to the country.,The Chief Executive, who will step down from office on 30 June, inspected the main campus of the state-run facility on Tuesday at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.,,“This National Academy of Sports is envisioned to be a world-class facility that will serve as a forefront in our efforts to provide a conducive environment for the academic, sports training, and character development of our young athletes,” he said in his speech.,“It is my hope and, maybe, my prayer that the pioneer batch of students will become well-rounded Olympians and champions who will carry our flag in the international sports arena and inspire a deep sense of patriotism among the Filipinos,” Duterte added.,The President also lauded Filipino athletes, including weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who bagged the country’s first Olympic gold medal last year.,He urged the public to work with the government to “sustain our present golden era of sports.”,“The legacy we are building will not be ours alone, but also for the succeeding generations to come,” he added.,The National Academy of Sports was created through Republic Act 11470, which Duterte signed in 2020.,Attached to the education department, the academy grants full scholarships to qualified student-athletes and integrates secondary education with a special curriculum on sports study while training.,Duterte was accompanied by Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Presidential Adviser for Covid Response and former Bases Conversion and Development Authority President Vince Dizon, Senators Bong Go and Sherwin Gatchalian, and Senator-elect Alan Peter Cayetano at the event.