New Year wishes

2024 was an amazing, harrowing and  dramatic year for this writer and most people. The country was ravaged by typhoons and other turbulence on many fronts. It was also an amazing year for sports. So much ground was broken, so many amazing performances were recorded. And we look forward to many more in 2025.

Still, there’s a lot to wish for in the coming year. First of all, we wish for more athletes to pay it forward, following the examples of EJ Obiena and Hidilyn Diaz, who created their own platforms for passing on their knowledge and inspiration to succeeding generations. Obiena built his own venue for future pole vaulters; Diaz has her own academy for future weightlifters. Their example should give ideas to other sports. Sometimes, you have to take grassroots development into your own hands. We salute them for it. Now, if only the problems of steroid use may be eliminated from international weightlifting altogether, so that the sport will not be removed from future Olympic Games.

Next, we wish for the streamlining of the myriad basketball leagues in the country. Although it is a good thing, there has to be some sort of unification of rules and standards. Many players are still being paid less and not getting any guarantees of future income. Some pro leagues don’t even pay what they owe their partners and broadcast networks. We look forward to government authorities like the Games and Amusements Board exerting more influence and oversight power over these leaks. After all, we want a healthy professional sports industry.

Also, on our wish list is harmony within the Philippine Sports commission. We hope that they can settle their differences and fix what needs to be fixed quietly and with the proper authorities. Nobody looks good when dirty laundry is aired in public. The Southeast Asian Games are coming in December, and there should be no distractions in terms of preparation. Thailand’s notorious for hometown decisions and unfair judging. Filipino athletes simply have to be superior to protect potential medals to be one. There’s no other way.

Philippine boxing also took a hit, with many world champions losing their belts early in the year. We pray that next year sees a turnaround in the sport. We look forward to having multiple world champions again, as many Filipino pugilists are on the cusp of winning world titles for the country. It is also our hope that more of these foreign bouts will be covered by local networks, to inspire even more future boxers.

It would also be tremendously fulfilling to see a resurgence for the PBA. The league has sacrificed so much for the national team, and continues to find ways to evolve for a picky audience. There’s so much raw talent out there, and many players are seeking brighter futures overseas. The PBA deserves our gratitude and patronage. It would be the easiest way to repay the organization for everything it has done specifically for our campaign to get back into the Olympics. It’s the least we could do.

2025 carries with it a fresh set of challenges, and even more opportunities for greatness. Whatever happens, let’s support our athletes and national teams. As this writer always says, sport is not a luxury. It is a necessity.