POC, PSC, PCKF on dragon boat reconciliation

The Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Canoe-Kayak Federation have never had anything against the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) or its team. They were merely following norms set by precedent and higher powers.

To be fair, the POC and PSC have been supportive of the team in its record-setting performances in 2007 and 2009, when they shattered world standards.

“We still are,” says POC president Peping Cojuangco.

Cojuangco explains that the POC received communication from the International Olympic Committee suggesting that the PDBF be folded into the PCKF, as what has been done in other sports.

“It said ‘should’, so I took it as something we must follow, because the IOC is our mother organization,” Cojuangco elaborated. “Besides, this has been done in other sports. Diving and water polo are under swimming. Aerobics is under gymnastics. In fact, after just a few years, the president of gymnastics is the president of aerobics.”

“In response to a POC inquiry, the IOC urged the POC to place dragon boat under the supervision of the canoe/kayak federation as this has been the consistent stand of the International Canoe Federation, the IOC-recognized international sports federation,” adds PCKF secretary-general Jonnie Go. “For our public’s guidance, the sport of dragon boat is not yet an Olympic sport and hence, the IDBF (International Dragon Boat Federation) could not be admitted to the IOC. It should also be noted that the IDBF is aware of its position in the scheme of things and not in a position to take a controversial stand as it would risk its bid for inclusion as a regular event of the Summer Olympic Games.”

Go also clarified that, last year alone, prior to the IOC directive, PDBF received about P10 million in funding from the national government through the PSC. About half of the members of the PDBF team did join the PCKF, while a 25-man group did not, found private sponsors, and proceeded to the world championships in Tampa, Florida, where they won five gold medals and two silvers in the small boat competitions. All told, the PDBF supposedly received P60 million in funding until the IOC directive came out. In fact, a resolution had been passed months before the Tampa competition clarifying this change. Cojuangco, meanwhile, allays fears that there would be interference when they join canoe-kayak because they are, after all, different disciplines.  

“For our part, we adopted a policy of funding sports recognized by the POC,” explains PSC chair Richie Garcia. “That streamlines things and makes it simpler for us. We still support other sports, but those are just one-shot deals. We sometimes recommend travel tax exemptions for them or assist them, but we don’t give them monthly allowances.”

For now, the athletes who joined the PCKF are preparing for the Southeast Asian Games. The PCKF and POC will also conduct individual time trials for each member of the national pool to ensure that all athletes are in the best possible condition for the biennial competition. A dialogue has been scheduled next week between the POC, PSC and the PDBF team, with Congress sending a representative to observe the meeting.

“Nothing smells fishy actually, only that certain issues had not been elucidated and an array of regrettable statements had been made in the heat of the argument,” Go adds. “The fiasco will disappear if athletes and bona fide sports officials are given the opportunity to talk and sort out the differences.”

Meanwhile, the POC and PSC have been working closely to account for funds that have been disbursed in for past competitions. Both revealed that there is an almost unanimous compliance among all NSAs now, unlike in past years when some sports refused to liquidate their expenses and threw their weight around. Cojuangco insists those times are over, and the athletes are benefiting. From a pool of over 300 national athletes, both entities are now supporting close to a thousand.

Should all parties come to the table for dialogue, all the issues may be clearly explained and both sides may be heard without filtering them through an excitable media. Each party may look each other in the eye and make clear their intentions to do what is best for all concerned. At least, that is what everyone is hoping for, so the sports pages may just be filled with celebration and congratulation, and only that. Imagine what a big morale boost it would be for the coming SEA Games delegation if the entire dragon boat community is reunited.