FOR A FEW on Monday the SEA Games took a backseat and the nation was glued to the television to cheer for our bet to this year’s Miss Universe pageant held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
We were hoping for a back-to-back victory but it was not meant to be as the bet from South Africa won the crown.
We may have lost the Miss U crown but whether we like it or not, the owner of the universe is from our country. I rest my case.
***
With all the controversy and the negativity surrounding the country’s hosting of the 30th SEAG, the 11-day event ended as the most productive finish for the Philippines, surpassing the previous best of the 2005 SEAG medal run. Indeed, if there is unity, we can win as one.
The most I gave our athletes was a third place finish in this regional meet and with something like an 80 gold medal haul. I was being conservative with my estimate considering our dismal performances in previous meets. The 220 gold medal haul wildly declared by a good number of NSA heads went pffft. Had they been in synch with their functions and their athletes, maybe that number could have been achieved.
Many local athletes shone and delivered and we all had seen and heard about their winning performances, including one’s offshore heroic effort that had gotten the attention and praise of the leader of one of the participating nations.
***
After an impressive drone light show, a spectacular fireworks display and a party atmosphere, it’s now all over except the memories and delegations had gotten home to their respective countries, bringing with them either the sweet taste of victory or the lingering aftertaste of defeat.
According to reports, we had built some good facilities at the New Clark City Sports Hub in Tarlac which included the Athletics Stadium that was graded Class A1 by the International Association of Athletics Federations, the first facility in the country to be given the distinction.
The sports complex also includes an Aquatics Center and an Athletes’ Village which has more than 500 rooms. Already, there are events booked at the Sports Hub – the 2020 ASEAN Para Games and the 2020 Asian Swimming Championships.
***
The Department of Education should take a long hard look and think really deep in changing the format of the Palarong Pambansa and hold the national games permanently at the Sports Hub as most of the facilities are already there as well as accommodations. The present set-up for hosting the Palaro is from Luzon then to Visayas then back to Luzon and then Mindanao.
***
Back to our athletes’ SEAG feat. They worked hard that had resulted to impressive accomplishments. It would be a waste if we can’t sustain what we had achieved and then drop to either fourth or sixth place when the 31st edition opens in Vietnam in 2021.
Training and joining international tournaments is a must to maintain and improve performance.
Homegrown talents had done well. We do have the material, the resources, the facilities and the government support. If only majority of our sports officials can agree and focus on the needs of our athletes instead of politicking and playing favorites.
***
The Tokyo Olympics is just months away and we’re still in the hunt of our country’s first ever Olympic gold medal. We could achieve the feat if we drop personal interests and unite for a common goal. Citius, Altius, Fortius./PN
