Sports officials share 2008 common wish – Beijing gold

In the new year, the quest for the elusive Olympic gold medal is finally bringing together the country’s sports leaders who are often at odds on issues stemming from financial, political and parochial differences.

It’s a dream that has become an obsession as the Philippines continues to search for the Olympic breakthrough, a chase that began when trackster David Nepomuceno became the first Filipino athlete to wear the national colors in the Summer Games in 1924. 

Twice, the Philippines came close to hitting paydirt. In 1964, boxer Anthony Villanueva lost a disputed split decision to Stanislav Stepashkin of Russia and settled for the silver in the featherweight finals in Tokyo.  And in 1996, another boxer Onyok Velasco was similarly robbed of the gold in the lightflyweight finals, bowing to Daniel Petrov of Bulgaria on points.

Boxing remains the country’s brightest hope for an Olympic gold as the last four medals since 1964 came exclusively from the sport. The Philippines has collected only nine medals in Olympic history – two silvers (from boxing in 1964 and 1996) and seven bronzes (three from boxing in 1936, 1988 and 1992; two from athletics in 1932 and 1936; two from swimming in 1928 and 1932).  Five of the nine medals were from boxing.

So far, only one Filipino fighter – lightflyweight Harry Tanamor – has qualified for the Beijing Olympics. There are two more Asian Olympic boxing qualifiers where the expectation is at least three Filipinos will earn tickets to Beijing.

The other Beijing qualifiers are swimmers Miguel Molina, Daniel Coakley, J. B. Walsh and Ryan Arabejo, taekwondo jins Tshomlee Go and Toni Rivero and archer Mark Javier. The delegation will also include a representative from the compulsory sport of athletics (track and field). 

The Philippines is in the dubious Olympic list for bagging the second most medals, next to Mongolia, without a gold. Mongolia has garnered 15 medals, five silvers and 10 bronzes. Puerto Rico is next in the ladder with six medals – a silver and five bronzes.

Other Southeast Asian nations in the Olympic medal roster without a gold are Malaysia (one silver, two bronzes), Singapore (one silver) and Vietnam (one silver). Neighboring Chinese state Hong Kong has a gold and a silver.

PSC chairman William (Butch) Ramirez said he will continue to dream and hope to get the first Filipino gold.

“Team Philippines – PSC, POC and the NSAs – must work together,” said Ramirez. “We must share our plans, strategies, goals, values, responsibilities, philosophies and even our problems. This is a fundamental issue that is urgent. A little virtue that I learned in the seminary life. Instead of greed, how about generosity? Instead of envy, try a little charity. Instead of pride, show some humility and instead of wrath, let’s see composure.”

POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr. said his new year’s resolution is “to earnestly work for the establishment of the Philippine training center to facilitate continuous specialized training programs to ensure creditable performances in international competitions.” His dream is also for the country to bag the first Olympic gold in Beijing.

POC first vice president and Rep. Monico Puentevella, recently appointed the country’s chef de mission in Beijing, saw the writing on the wall. “Aug. 8, 2008, at 8 p.m. or 8888 will work wonders (for us) in the Beijing Olympics,” he said. “Let’s all pray that an elusive Olympic gold will change the course of destiny for Philippine sports and spur our economy and people to greater heights.”

ABAP president Manny Lopez said his wishes for the new year are “peace on earth, goodwill to all mankind, unity among sports personalities and the first Olympic gold of our country – in boxing, of course.”

SBP president and PLDT chairman Manny Pangilinan didn’t specify an Olympic gold as his target for 2008 but it’s obviously in his sights as he chose to paint a bigger picture for the future. “I simply would want to see a better performance, to achieve a higher level of excellence, to be at world-class standards, in the chosen fields of interest – business, sports, philanthropy,” said MVP.  ”We should continue to show our people and the world that indeed, the Filipino can!”

Bog Adornado, who played on the last national basketball team to compete in the Olympics in 1972, said his wish for 2008 is “definitely an Olympic gold for the Philippines.” Adornado added he hopes for “a united effort for Philippine sports in the implementation of its national sports programs, especially in basketball, by way of grassroots development of our youth today.”