“Citius, Altius, Fortius”- those are the three Latin words meaning “Faster, Higher, Stronger” on the Olympic Motto.
I wonder if anybody in this world does not know about Olympic Games. From my school days in primary grade, my teachers already injected the significance of the Olympics in my young mind. Almost every four years, I give a keen attention to one of the world’s anticipated event—always putting my hopes high that my beloved country would bring home a “gold”.
Then it happened again.
This year in Beijing, since the start of the Olympics, I am tracking the performance of Philippine Athletic Delegation to China. At least two times in every single day, when I wake up in the morning and before I sleep at night (sometimes, during lunch at work too), I visit the Beijing Olympics Homepage— wishing to be surprised for a news of the Philippine team bagging a medal (to wish for a gold is way far too high L). I am waiting for a medal for Philippines. Even just one medal….
But is it truly luck which does not favor the Pinoy delegation?
Prior to this year’s Olympics, Filipinos have been pinning their hopes, after 84 years of not getting a gold medal, on Filipino boxer, Harry Tanamor. Since 1924 when Philippines joined Olympic Games, Filipino athletes have won only nine medals, with boxing athletes bagging two silver medals and three bronze medals. In 2004, Tanamor was able to reach the quarterfinals in Athens game. This year, he had to win five matches to bag a gold. Unfortunately, Filipinos had another big upset when boxer Tanamor suffered an immediate defeat from losing to Manyo Plange of Ghana, on August 13
Now, with only a few more days before Beijing Olympics end, I am wondering if I should put the blame on the Pinoy athletes for not wining, or to the country where they came from– embodied by Philippines’ ever grueling politics which I am not proud of.
I watch several clips of amateur Olympiads from other countries (especially those coming from Southeast Asia- our “neighbors”) garnering medals everyday. I am happy for the showcase of skills and talents as well as the spirit of sportsmanship from the athletes’ stories.
But I could not push back my sadness, thinking that I know my country can do better.
Is it that hard?
Filipinos around the globe struggle daily to be recognized.
A medal would have been dearly welcomed amidst the chaos of military conflict in Philippines right now.
In the end, I could just sit and wait—wishing that Philippines might get a “gold” during my lifetime— even just ONE.
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3 Responses for "Philippines: Not Fit For An Olympic Gold?"
I am not against what you are saying that truly the olympic is established to know who is “Citius, Altius, Fortius”, but, then, I believe that this is just secondary. If you’re keen to the message of the white guy in the openning ceremonies, you would realize that Olympics is made to promote unity and cooperation among countries. Therefore, winning a gold medal is not and must not be the end. It is doing your best in your filed to show the world we are able too.
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I don’t think its about our luck at all. This guy, Daniel Johnson, tried to predict the olympic games outline using economics (or the lack of it). Check out my post on my blog: http://musingsofayoungeconomist.co.cc
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