Zero So Far

It seems one Filipino athlete is being booted out of the Beijing Olympics everyday. I just watched the boxing event just a few minutes ago... and yup we lost. Filipino boxer Harry Tanamor was defeated by Manyo Plange from Ghana by points system. Tanamor just scored 3 compared to Plange's 6 points. Our lone Filipino boxer is I think the 5th Pinoy Olympian bow out of the Olympics during Day 5 of the Beijing Games. It is just sad cause Tanamor was seen as the athlete with better chances of clinching a medal for the country, but it all went down the drain.

But not to lose hope, 10 more athletes have good chances of winning the Philippines' first ever gold medal, or at least a bronze. I just hope kahit isa man lang.

Isn't it weird that we don't have a gold medal winner ever since the country joined the Olympics in 1924? I don't think it's the built or the size of the athlete that mattered, since many Asians have won the gold too. Some would say funding. Well that's true, sports is not really a major priority in the country. But I really think it should be. I know there are a lot of problems in the country, and some would say putting money in sports programs is a waste compared to putting money in housing or food programs for example. But sports gives a different effect. It will always have a unifying power. History tells us that sports have united a country in ways not even a good economy can. Take Manny Pacquiao for example or Efren Bata Reyes (btw, why didn't they compete in the Olympics?). I am so sure a bronze medal can make Filipinos everywhere happy.

I believe government must step-up efforts to promote and improve our sports system in the country. Especially as the Philippines will host the 2014 ASIAN BEACH GAMES and the 2019 SEA GAMES... and is also planning to bid for the 2018 ASIAN GAMES (and probably for the 2024 OLYMPICS :-)

Thank you and Congrats to all Filipino Olympians!

*pic from www.op.gov.ph