Mental toughness key to Asiad success – Elizalde

BUSAN — More than the physical conditioning, it’s the mental toughness that will be the key to success as far as the Philippine participation in the 14th Asian Games is concerned.

"It’s really a mental thing. Positive thinking is the main requirement," International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde told a couple of scribes in a rare interview inside the sprawling athletes’ village Sunday noon.

"You can be physically prepared like everybody else, but it’s really the mental aspect. Sometimes, we lack that, that will to win, that will to fight," added Elizalde as he tried to egg on the RP athletes who will compete in 30 of the 38 events on tap here until Oct. 14.

Elizalde arrived in this port city just the other day and will stay only for a week. He came in with the bowling team, has made a quick tour of the RP quarters, visiting some athletes and checking on their condition, before hearing a Sunday Mass in a church nearby.

"Our athletes look good, feel good and are optimistic. I think we’ll do better than in the Bangkok Asian Games. We just have to play it cool and then hope for the best. In 1998, I think we were a little laid back," he added.

Elizalde said a big factor that would contribute to a successful RP campaign here is the harmonious relationship going on between the Philippine Olympic Committee under Celso Dayrit and the Philippine Sports Commission under Eric Buhain.

"They are working together and it’s very vital… and with everyone else chipping in like Samsung. We really have to pull our resources together," Elizalde added. The IOC official explained that the POC and the PSC working hand in hand with the private sector is the only way to overcome the lack of financial support from the government.

"I’m not making any excuses, but if you just look at what the other countries are getting, ours is very negligible. It’s really incredible what the others are getting. But maybe someday, when the economy improves, more could go to sports," he said. – Abac Cordero