UK expert offers to advise POC

LONDON – University of Hertfordshire senior lecturer of sport studies and Heart of England bodybuilding champion Dr. Elesa Argent yesterday offered to advise the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) on how to address the problem of structuring an integrated grassroots program to develop elite athletes with a focus on the 2012 Games.

Argent, 32, said she will evaluate the performance of both the British and Philippine delegations, particularly in boxing, at the coming Beijing Olympics and share her insights if the POC is interested.

The doctorate degree holder in sport science from Loughborough University mentioned the possibility of taking a trip to Manila before the year ends to confer with POC officials on sports issues such as government support, private financing, events management, promotions, laying the groundwork for a sports infrastructure with the school system as a foundation, the importance of shared management in sports, linkage with semi-pro and pro leagues, cooperation with other national sports organizations, youth development and age-group competitions, talent identification and an econometric analysis of team performance.

POC chairman Robert Aventajado earlier expressed interest in inviting Dr. Argent for a series of lectures in Manila to coincide with the staging of the national finals of this year’s Philippine Olympic Festival in Cagayan de Oro.

“I would be honored to share my views and knowledge on sports with Filipino sports leaders,” said Dr. Argent. “This is my training. I am in close contact with the Amateur Boxing Association chairman and I know why and how the British team has been able to qualify seven fighters for Beijing when only four years ago, it qualified only one.”

Dr. Argent said the British government has been involved in promoting boxing in the inner cities by putting up gyms to draw out kids from the streets and into sports. The state’s social orientation has given impetus to the boxing program.

“I’m a boxer myself,” said Dr. Argent who also dabbles in taekwondo and participates in bodybuilding competitions. “Over the last few years, we’ve witnessed tremendous progress in British boxing from the amateur and professional levels. Perhaps, there are things in the model which are applicable in the Philippines.”

Dr. Argent said she is aware of the progress of the preparations for London to host the 2012 Olympics and could brief the POC on how to get ready in the next four years.

“We’ve read some negative things in the London press about our preparations but I think we’re on track,” said Dr. Argent. “We’re adjusting budgets to reflect priorities such as in security. Some human rights issues have cropped up lately, particularly with regard to the lifetime ban on athletes who tested positive for illegal drugs but everything should be sorted out soon.”

Dr. Argent said her involvement with the National Football League (NFL) as head of research and development of the British Universities American Football League (BUAFL) has given her the experience to cope with a situation that was at first dysfunctional.

“We saw NFL Europe pull out because there was never really a plan to generate grassroots support and draw out European players,” she said. “There was never a doubt as to the popularity of the game, however. Over 80,000 showed up for the Giants versus Dolphins game at Wembley last year. And this year, New Orleans and San Diego are playing. The NBA is also scheduling a preseason game in London this year. I’m in contact with Andy Fuller of the NFL and we’re looking to build a foundation for American football using the British school system.”

Dr. Argent said she has encountered leadership squabbles in British sports and found solutions to create shared management and cooperative partnerships.

“If there is politics in Philippine sports, maybe I could also share what I know about how to face that situation,” she said.