Hindi mapapantayan ng salapi ang sakripisyo at paghihirap na pinagdaa-nan ng 15 national athletes na nakatakdang sumabak sa nalalapit na 2008 Olympic Games sa Beijing, China.
“Hindi na nakocompute ng data ’yung puso ng isang atleta na gustong manalo ng gold medal para sa bayan,” wika kahapon ni Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez sa lingguhang PSA sports forum sa Shakey’s sa UN Avenue, Manila.
Ang mga atletang lalahok sa 2008 Beijing Games na nakatakda sa Agosto 8 hanggang 24 ay sina national swimmers Miguel Molina, Ryan Arabejo, JB Walsh, Daniel Coakley at Cristel Simms, taekwondo jins Marie Antoinette Rivero at Tshomlee Go, divers Shiela Mae Perez at Rexel Ryan Fabriga, boxer Harry Tañamor, shooter Eric Ang, archer Mark Javier, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz at long jumpers Marestella Torres at Henry Dagmil.
Hindi pa nananalo ng gintong medalya ang sinumang Filipino athlete sa Olympic Games kung saan ang pinakamalapit ay ang silver medal nina featherweight Anthony Villanueva at light fly-weight Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco, Jr. noong 1964 Tokyo at 1996 Atlanta Games, ayon sa pagkakasunod.
“I think one of the missing link of many leaders and athletes is the love of country and I think these people have built that spirit and it will be the basis of a strong patriotism of our athletes that while we are spending millions of pesos dahil kailangan nila, the heroism of these young people cannot be quantified by money,” ani Ramirez.
Sa hanay naman ng mga National Sports Associations (NSA) ng swimming, taekwondo, boxing, archery, shooting, diving at athletics, sinabi ni POC chairman Robert Aventajado na nagawa na nila ang dapat nilang gawin.
“I think we have done our part. the PSC has supported us. the Philippine government has supported us. Tulung-tulong,” wika ni Aventajado. “So kung may mangyari man diyan (Olympics), hindi lang achievement ‘yan ng Philippine Taekwondo Association. Achievement rin ‘yan ni chairman Ramirez, achievement rin ‘yan ni President Arroyo, achievement ng buong bayan.” (Russell Cadayona)