One of the incidental benefits that the World Cup brought to Brazil was the construction of a modern football stadia all over the country.
Here, when was the last time that the country had a new venue?
If my memory is correct, the last was the Philsport Arena in Pasig. Since then, all that the sports authorities in our country could come up with is a renovated Rizal Memorial Complex, which is even older than my generation.
This is proof evident how our government looks at sports.
Even President Ramos, who is an avowed sportsman, was not able to give much to sports.
If from the time of the Marcos dictatorship up to present, sports was given a share of what has been wasted by our government, the amounts that went to the pockets of politicians, to opportunists like those who are involved in the PDAF and DAP scams, to unscrupulous contractors and subcontractors who corner government projects not because of qualification but through sheer nepotism, at least every region in the country would already have world class sports venue, which can accommodate big events, like the Asian Games.
Our situation here in Cebu is even more dire.
During the Marcos regime, since we were touted as the only real opposition to the dictatorship, we were bypassed when sports complexes were constructed all throughout the country.
Funny, when Metro Cebu was only second to Metro Manila as a source of sports talents. From athletics, to basketball, baseball and softball, soccer, volleyball, boxing, chess, tennis, weightlifting etc. You name it, and Cebu had it.
The only sport that the Cebuano was not competitive was swimming and gymnastics.
The first because we never had an Olympic sized pool. The second because we never had the expertise of world class coaches and trainors. Gymnastics would have been a natural, if you look at the dance sports athletes who happen to be world class.
If in the future, a Cebuano would bring the highest honor to our country, then we would have established a world record for turning out a champion without the benefit of a proper venue.
Philippine sports is still so wracked by politics that there is still no light at the end of the tunnel.
If there is any notable development in Philippine sports, it is never because of any effort of a sports association, but more often than not, through private initiative.
This is probably the reason why our national teams are no longer solely carrying the Philippine brand. In basketball, it is Gilas Pilipinas. In football, it is the Philippine Azkals.
I think there should be a rule that if a National Sports Association does not perform, the officers should not be allowed to run again for office. So with the Philippine Sports Commission.
These sports officials (assuming that they are really sportsmen so they know what they are doing) are able to perpetuate themselves in office by hand picking so called regional directors, who in turn vote for them during the election for leadership in the NSA.
Neat, is it not?
Why do they want to stay as officers of an NSA, until perpetuity, or death, whichever comes first? Are there perks that they get, which the public does not know?
Our only hope is that one day, somebody, whether in government or in the private sector would be influential and determined enough, which would enable him to clean the mess that Philippine sports is in, and hopefully finally realize the potential that a country with a hundred million population has.
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