Dayrit’s golden dream

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Celso Dayrit says it’s not unrealistic to imagine the Philippines topping the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2005 despite finishing fifth overall in Kuala Lumpur two years ago.

Is Dayrit talking nonsense or what? Honestly, he thinks beating powerhouses Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia is doable.

"If we set a goal of 92 gold medals in 2005, I think we can do it," insists Dayrit. "Remember, in 2001, we got 31 golds and 65 silvers. If we convert those silvers into golds, we’ll go up to over 92. That’s realistic, considering a lot of those silvers could’ve easily been gold. But to get the job done, we can do with less politics, more prudent use of resources, and a little more experience for our athletes. We’ve got to get our act together now."

Vietnam hosts the next SEA Games this year. Manila will take its turn in 2005.

It’s traditional, if not expected, for the host country to figure prominently in the race for top overall honors in the biennial SEA Games. The Philippines has hosted the event twice since joining the conclave in 1977.

In its first hosting in 1981, the Philippines took third place behind Indonesia and Thailand. Filipino athletes captured 55 golds, 55 silvers, and 77 bronzes. First placer Indonesia brought home a haul of 85 golds, 73 silvers, and 26 bronzes. Malaysia was a poor fourth with only 16 golds, 27 silvers, and 31 bronzes.

The Philippines vaulted to second place when it hosted the 16th SEA Games in 1991. Indonesia remained on top with 92 golds, 86 silvers, and 87 golds. The hosts took 91 golds, 62 silvers, and 86 bronzes. Thailand was third and Malaysia, fourth.

Two years ago, Malaysia claimed the pole position with 109 golds in Kuala Lumpur. Thailand came next in the ladder with 102 golds. Indonesia was third at 72 and surprising Vietnam fourth at 33. There were 10 nations represented in the competitions–Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

With Vietnam’s strong showing in Kuala Lumpur, expect a more formidable performance when it hosts this year’s affair. The Philippines will be lucky to retain fifth spot.

Dayrit, however, isn’t as concerned about the Philippines’ performance in Vietnam as he is about its showing in 2005. The host nation must be ready to defend its turf.

Since the Philippines’ record harvest in 1991, the gold haul hasn’t been too encouraging. The total slipped to 57 in 1993, down to 33 in 1995, up to 43 in 1997, down to 20 in 1999, and up to 31 in 2001. The numbers are far from consistent.

In 2001, the Philippines bagged nine golds in track, four each from bowling and wushu, three each from billiards and taekwondo, two from karate, and one apiece from archery, basketball, fencing, golf, judo and shooting.

Dayrit says the country’s sports leaders must agree to work towards a clear, measurable, and time-bound goal for 2005. That’s the only way to move forward, he stresses.

"If our goal is 92 golds in 2005, then we should begin to rationalize our priorities now," he adds. "If the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) looks at it that way, its focus should be on the training of national athletes. If the PSC’s focus is on grassroots development, I’m wondering what kind of measurable goals it has. Is it the number of children playing in the Palaro? What is the measure of the PSC’s success?"

Dayrit says come hell or high water, he will finish his POC term in 2004. He’s not thinking of reelection at the moment. "I feel I don’t have to prove anything to anyone," continues Dayrit. "I’ll do what I have to do. I am the chairman of the executive committee of the SEA Games Federation and my term in that capacity ends in 2005 regardless of whether I will remain POC president beyond 2004 or not."

Dayrit isn’t considering the withdrawal of hosting the 2005 Games an option. He says it’s a commitment and unless ordered otherwise by the Chief Executive, the direction is to prepare for the event.

While he realizes that the burden of producing champion athletes lies in each National Sports Association (NSA), Dayrit says he can’t help but set his sights on the PSC because "that’s where the money is."

Dayrit says the task of developing champion athletes isn’t easy. "We’ve got to identify the sports where we can win, the events to focus on, and the athletes to do it," he explains. "It’s not guesswork. It’s a deliberate and scientific effort that requires programming competitions for our athletes. I’d like to call attention to our government to lead in this effort."

What causes problems along the way is the politicking that ruins the loftiest of intentions. "Politicking gives a poor example to our athletes," laments Dayrit. "It destroys the good image of sports."

In line with his thinking to put a clear direction in the mission to produce champion athletes, Dayrit suggests to integrate the Palarong Pambansa with Batang Pinoy into a "Philippine Youth Games" to be staged once every two years and to reactive the biennial Philippine National Games to be played alternately with the Philippine Youth Games.

Dayrit claims the PSC takes away from the direction of producing champion athletes by giving too much attention to and wasting precious pesos on developmental projects.

Dayrit has written President Arroyo to lobby for executive approval to redirect the PSC’s focus.

More on Dayrit’s position and the PSC’s reaction in Tuesday’s column.