Thirteen Athletes

South Korea has a population that's about half that of the Philippines, but they've got a delegation that's 250+ strong and, as of this writing, two have already won medals. Taiwan, with a far smaller population, boasts 75. City-state Singapore has 24.

Even Jamaica, a country that's about as large as Isabela province, and with a population that's just a few hundred thousand more than Quezon City, still managed to send 58.

When I look at the athlete list of the Philippine Olympic delegation, I can't help but wonder again--thirteen athletes, with only one in boxing. But then I shouldn't wonder, given the kind of financial and logistical support the local sports scene has been getting, plus so many other factors beyond the control of the athletes themselves.

Still, I'd like to dream.

(Kung tutuusin, hinahalo naman ang isports sa showbiz, kaya bakit hindi na lang gumawa ng reality TV talent search para sa isports? Partikular ang track and field o kaya'y modern pentathlon, dahil iba't-iba ang events ng mga ito. O kaya'y badminton, dahil kahit papaano'y popular pa rin ito sa mga yuppies. Puede rin ang table tennis, dahil exciting din siyang panoorin.

(Tulad ng Dream Academy, magkakaroon ng training ang mga kontestant, tapos elimination per week. Ang grand prize ay isang milyong piso, sabay further OA na training, pakonti-konting TV commercials, at guesting sa sitcom at game show, tapos isasabak ang mga winner sa mga international sports meet. Ang maganda nito, dahil lumabas na sila sa reality show, makakaipon sila ng mga fans. Tapos, kung manalo sila sa abroad, pogi points para sa network.)


All the best to our delegates; may any one of them pull a pleasant surprise for us.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Oo nga, 89.5 million Filipinos, iyun lang ang delegates ? wala tayong Soccer team, samantalang malakas ang mga taga-Negros, Dumaguete,Barotac Nuevo ,diyan. Actually mas may chances pa tayo sa soccer kesa basketball. Pero bakit parang na isnub tayo sa TV coverage ?


Auggie
Carver said…
Balita ko nga magagaling ang mga soccer players natin. Ang punchline lang yung facilities at coaching. Actually, kahit saang sports na hindi masyadong factor ang tangkad, kaya ng Pinoy.

Talaga? Walang masyadong coverage ang Pinas? Kakalungkot naman.

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