Dayrit wary of competition in Beijing

Although the country’s delegation of 15 athletes is prepared to tough it in Beijing, former Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Celso Dayrit said yesterday the level of competition may make it difficult to produce a medal against the odds.

“We’re all praying for better results,” said Dayrit, the chef de mission in the Seoul and Barcelona Olympics. “Our athletes were adequately funded by the PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) this time to prepare for the Olympics so they should do better than the past. The competition, however, just keeps on getting tougher.”

Dayrit said Beijing’s warm climate will suit the Filipino athletes.

“I think our athletes will easily adapt to the weather because we’re used to it,” continued Dayrit. “It all depends on what our condition is like on the day of competition. We train under substandard conditions so when we are faced with better facilities, we come up with our best.”

Dayrit said the country’s medal hopes hinge on lightflyweight boxer Harry Tañamor and taekwondo jins Tshomlee Go and Toni Rivero with trap shooter Eric Ang also capable of pulling a surprise.

“We’re counting on four of our athletes to get a medal,” said Dayrit. “The rest are in it for experience. We actually had more boxers and jins in Athens but they didn’t bring back a medal.”

Dayrit was offered credentials to attend the Olympics as Asian and Philippine fencing president by the international federation but declined the invitation. No Filipino fencer qualified for Beijing.

Dayrit said for the 2012 London Olympics, athletes must begin training as early as next year.

“Our athletes should train on a long-term basis, not just the year before the Olympics,” he noted. “If we follow the Olympic cycle, we should start training in 2009 for 2012.  Our first goal is to do well in the qualifiers the year before the Olympics in 2011. That should be our target. We’ll program to peak in 2011 for the qualifiers then re-peak in 2012. If we don’t qualify, there’s no need to look at 2012.  Athletes have to qualify to make it to the Olympics. If they don’t perform, they don’t participate.”

Dayrit said there’s no substitute for being focused and determined.

“The POC and the PSC should identify potential Olympians from the beginning and monitor their performance regularly from 2009 to 2011,” he said. “It’s not necessary that athletes win right from the start. It’s important that they keep improving and meeting short-term targets on the way to achieving long-term goals. Without this kind of program, we’ll only just rely on luck to get ahead.”

As for WBC lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s role to carry the flag in yesterday’s opening ceremonies, Dayrit said he hopes the fighter’s magic rubs off on the Filipino Olympians.

“Overall, I think the general public appreciated the choice of Manny as our flag bearer,” said Dayrit. “To some sportsmen, the choice came as a surprise because he’s not an Olympic participant. But I don’t think it was a bad idea. There was no harm done. Manny, after all, is an icon and inspiration to all Filipino athletes.”

Dayrit said when the competition starts, the 15 Filipino athletes will become flag bearers in their own sports.

“It’s like Manny will pass the torch to the athletes in holding up the aspirations of our countrymen,” added Dayrit. “That’s Manny’s role. That’s how he will inspire our athletes to excel.”