Athletes in state of confusion

MANILA, Philippines - With the battle for sports supremacy between the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) still unsettled, the country’s athletes are in a daze not knowing whether to follow directions from the government funding agency or the official accrediting body for international competitions.

A case in point is the fundamental issue of how many athletes will represent the country in the 25th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos on Dec. 9-18. The PSC initially set a limit of 153 athletes and 47 officials in 21 sports, using as basis of selection only the gold and silver medalists of the last SEA Games with a handful of bronze medalists considered to be top prospects. But POC president Jose Cojuangco confirmed the other day there will be 247 Filipino athletes and 132 officials in Laos, disregarding the PSC’s guidelines.

The original deadline for submission of athletes’ lineups to the SEA Games organizing committee was Oct. 26 but the POC was given an extension up to last Thursday. The first count submitted by the POC listed 213 athletes and 68 officials.

Beyond the limit set by the PSC, the POC will finance the participation of 94 athletes.

Another point of conflict is the issue of official uniforms. The PSC is issuing uniforms from Accel while the POC is insisting it has the sole authority to give out “official” uniforms from Chinese company 361 Degrees. The athletes are confused as to which uniforms to wear in Laos.

POC spokesman Joey Romasanta said yesterday he is offering to broker a working arrangement with the PSC, similar to the role he played with PSC executive director Fr. Vic Uy during PSC chairman William (Butch) Ramirez’ term.

PSC chairman Harry Angping recently said he is willing to sit down with Cojuangco before the SEA Games to iron out differences.

“We hope Mr. Angping’s pronouncements aren’t just nice sound bytes for media,” said Romasanta. “Mr. Cojuangco is ready to talk. He’s just waiting for a call.”

Romasanta recalled that during Ramirez’ term, a meeting was set between POC and PSC officials at the Manila Golf Club and a “modus vivendi” was agreed on before the last SEA Games.

There was a recent attempt to broker a meeting between Cojuangco and Angping by Health Secretary Francisco Duque, disclosed Romasanta, but it never prospered.

“It’s like there’s no end to politics in sports and the athletes are confused,” said Romasanta. “It’s not fair to the athletes. The PSC has no authority to name athletes representing our country to the SEA Games, Asian Games and Olympics. It may set a limit as to how many it can fund but it has no authority to accredit athletes because that authority rests with the POC alone.”

Romasanta said limiting the choice of athletes to previous gold and silver medalists is a short-term approach.

“We should think beyond the SEA Games and look ahead to the Asian Games and Olympics,” said Romasanta. “We should give an opportunity for future medalists to perform in the SEA Games. Besides, it’s possible the previous medalists are no longer as capable, being two years older.”

Even the petty issue of uniforms has confused the athletes.

“The PSC uniforms are yellow while the official POC uniforms are our traditional red, blue and white,” said Romasanta. “We can’t allow our athletes to wear two different sets of uniforms. There is a protocol to be followed in clearing the design of official uniforms with the organizing committee. Take the case of basketball in the last SEA Games. The players wore blue uniforms showing a logo of a sponsor on their jerseys. The overall design was cleared but not the logo so masking tape was placed on every jersey to cover the logo. It was quite embarrassing to see our players with masking tape on their jerseys.”

Romasanta explained that only the POC has the authority to designate the official outfitter for Filipino athletes, being the national franchise holder for the SEA Games, Asian Games and Olympics.

“It’s such a waste to have another set of uniforms,” he said. “The money used for the uniforms could’ve been used for other requirements of our athletes.”

The POC recently signed an agreement for 361 Degrees to provide uniforms, apparel, bags and shoes for Filipino athletes in the SEA Games and the Asian Beach Games, Asian Games and Youth Olympics next year.