Philippine politics and sports

0
I recently interviewed Philippine Swimming League (PSL) swimmer Jan Vincent “JV”
Llaguno, 18, a varsity tanker of De La Salle University-Dasmariñas.

JV is a Bachelor of Physical Education student and was a participant in the 2015 Summer
World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea.

Many say sports and politics don’t mix but there are always exceptions.

JV said that “politics and sports or sports diplomacy use sports as a means to influence
diplomatic, social, and political relations, and that sports diplomacy may transcend cultural
differences and bring people together.”

The use of sports and politics has both positive and negative implications as history has
proven. Sports competitions have the intention to bring about change in certain cases.
Nationalistic fervor is sometimes linked to victories or losses in some sports.

The Olympics is often the biggest example of using sports for diplomatic means. While
ethnicity and race can cause division, sports can also help reconcile differences.

Sports is an important part of Philippine culture but it was never been the priority of our top
officials. They have no vision for our athletes.

Basically, we Filipinos love sports.

But look at Manny Pacquiao; how the whole country joins him each time he gets in the ring.
The Philippines fell in love with football when the Azkals came along. And there is a
basketball court in practically every barangay across the nation. We are not short on
passion and neither do we lack talent. So what is it that is making us fail so miserably?

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is the government agency primarily tasked of
assisting in the development of amateur sports in the country while the Philippine Olympic
Committee (POC) is a private, non-government organization recognized by the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) as the sole agency in the Philippines responsible for athletes
competing in the SEA Games, Asian Games and the Olympics.

As an athlete, representing the country is a huge undertaking hence we prepare ourselves

for the pressure of competing internationally.

Sending athletes to international competition is akin to sending diplomats to other countries.

There are minimum standards that the government must strive to achieve if they want the
rest of the world to take Philippines seriously in sports.
The majority of Filipinos believe that the government is to blame for the country’s failure in
sports. Besides proper training and proper diet, psychological readiness is also required for
optimal athletic performance.

Some athletes lack nutrition as well as physical and mental conditioning. How can they be
mentally strong if they’re not physically strong?

We don’t even have proper training facilities and nobody is exerting effort to fulfill these
needs.

Former President Fidel V. Ramos, a sports fan and an athlete, signed Executive Orders 63
and 64 that mandated the creation of Physical, Fitness and Sports Development Councils to
promote physical education and sports programs and competitions on a national scale.
Whatever happened to this law?

It was also during his term that the Philippines last won an Olympic medal. When will be the
next?

Does the present administration ranks sports on the top of its priorities?

The lack of attention given to sports is evident in the laughable budget the government has
for athletic development. This neglect appears to perpetuate yet another problem;
destructive politics among local sports agencies.

Among these are accusations of mishandling of funds and power struggles between heads
of National Sports Association (NSA’s), the PSC and the POC that has been going on for
years.

Caught in the middle of these dirty squabbles are the athletes, some of which were deprived
of financial support or barred from competing in international competitions.