Thursday, December 10, 2009

Boardroom losses

The Philippines lost at least three potential golds in cycling even before members of the Philippine team could embark on their quests.

This is because the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) sent to Laos a team assembled by the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling), a cycling body headed by businessman Mikee Romero that is not accredited by the International Cycling Federation (UCI). The group recognized by the UCI is the Philippine Cycling Association (PCA) headed by Tagaytay City mayor Bembol Tolentino.

Romero bankrolled the participation of 13 Filipino cyclists in Laos and was set to race last Thursday when the UCI announced the ban. Defending road race individual champion Marites Bitbit, the only cyclist in the team with UCI accreditation, was pulled out of the race reportedly on advice of POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco.

Aside from Bitbit’s gold in the road race, the Philippine cycling team won two more gold medals in the SEA Games held in Bangkok, Thailand, two years ago.
This situation is no longer funny because it keeps happening and has become a common fare in almost all sports in the country – basketball, chess, billiards, equestrian, swimming, badminton, etc.

It is hard to imagine how much losses we have suffered in terms of opportunity because of petty squabbling and power play among Philippine sports officials. I imagine they go beyond the SEA Games and the Asian Games.

If only to underline the absurdity of it all, a high-ranking Tsinoy sports official suggests that ASEAN countries should have Pat McQuaid, UCI president, declared persona non grata for turning down his request for temporary accreditation for the 12 cyclists. Well, that sadly makes a whole lot of statement for our sports officials.

No comments:

Post a Comment