Challenge of Winter Games

For over a week, POC president Cong. Bambol Tolentino was in Beijing to join the Philippine delegation at the Winter Olympics and saw for himself the harsh realities of competing in the Games whose conditions are unfamiliar to Filipinos. But Tolentino said even as the country is represented by only one athlete in Beijing, he’s not closing the door for more participation in the future.

Tolentino said he had a productive discussion with US-based Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation president Jim Apelar in Beijing about recruiting Fil-Ams used to winter. “Marami raw mga bata may potential,” said Tolentino. “Ang problema ay karamihan walang Philippine passports. May proseso ‘yan pero meron mga limitations according to the law. May dugong Pinoy sila kaya sana makagawa ng paraan. Kung mga foreigners, nakakakuha ng passports by naturalization, ano pa kaya mga meron Filipino blood?”

The country’s sole representative Asa Miller, a Fil-Am from Oregon, competes in his second event, the men’s slalom, today. In his first event, Miller crashed out of contention within 20 seconds of sliding down the giant slalom and registered a DNF (Did Not Finish). Of 81 competitors, Miller was among 35 who failed to finish. “Buti ‘di siya na injured,” said Tolentino. “Halos zero visibility because of bad weather. Talagang dapat mag-ingat.”

Tolentino said he rode three gondola lifts to get to the top of the giant slalom. Typically, the event features 56 to 70 poles or gates which skiers must navigate in between until the end of the course with a vertical drop ranging from 820 to 1,480 feet. Before riding the gondola, one of Tolentino’s companions was given heat pads by a friendly delegate from the Netherlands to insert in the soles of his shoes. Apparently, the Dutchman saw the shoes wouldn’t protect him from the cold at the top of the slope.

“Sobrang lamig,” said Tolentino. “It was -10, -11 noong nandoon ako pero during Asa’s competition, bumaba sa -20. Mahirap ang Winter Olympics, parang laro ng may-kaya kasi ang mamahal ng gear. Training is a challenge. Saan ka pupunta for training? Whistler sa Canada o Europe? For the future, pwede tayong sumali sa speed skating, 500 at 1,500, sa bobsleigh din. Jamaica nga may entry sa bobsleigh. Ang alpine skiing, siksikan sila doon to qualify.”

Tolentino said China must be commended for organizing the Games. “Ginamit ko ang all-access pass ko to visit all three Olympic Villages,” he said. “Closed loop ang bubble nila at ang pagsakay sa bullet train, every 30 minutes, with or without passengers ang schedule, only with Olympic accreditation. Ang pagkain ay wide variety from Asian to Mediterranean to halal to Western, 24/7, free-flowing coffee pati ice cream nakakain ako ng avocado at peaches flavors. Bibigyan ka pa ng ziplock for take-out. Daming dignitaries dumating, including Russian president (Vladimir) Putin, UN secretary-general (Antonio) Guterres at WHO head (Dr. Tedros Adhanom) Ghebreyesus. Sa ginawa nila for the Winter Olympics, China will be more than ready for the Asian Games in Hangzhou sa September.”