QUEZON City, Philippines (August 22) – The modern Olympic Games have been one of the most highly-supported sporting events in the world, with many countries sending their athletic delegates to compete since 1932. Every four years, athletes from all over the world show off the skills that they honed and perfected through training and hard work.
The Olympic Games was modeled after the ancient Greek sporting event of the same name. The classical game was created by the kings and rulers as a method of keeping good relations between their kingdoms. Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, loved the idea so much that he chose to establish what is undoubtedly the most significant sporting event in history to bring about international unity.
The Olympics inspired other kinds of sport events like the Youth Olympic Games and the Paralympics’ Cames, both of which showcases the participants’ ability as well as their passion for sports. These events just show that anyone can achieve their dreams if they have the courage and the perseverance.
The Philippines have been a part of the Olympics since 1924. That is the first time a country from Southeast Asia joined the Games and also the first time for a Southeast Asian country to win a medal. Since 1924, the Philippines continuously sent athletes to the Olympics.
To date, the Philippines has won 10 Olympic medals – three silver medals and seven bronze medals. The latest was won by Hidilyn Diaz, who bagged a silver medal in weight-lifting at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The first was the bronze medal won by Teofilo Yldefonso in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics for swimming. Yldefenso won the bronze again in 1932 Los Angeles Olympics with Simeon Toribio who won a bronze for the men’s high jump and Jose Villanueva who won a bronze for boxing. The 1932 Los Angeles Olympics is also the most fruitful for the Philippines, where the country won three Olympic medals.
Although winning 10 Olympic medals is no mean feat, one is left to wonder why the Philippines have not won more? And where is our gold medal?
Unfortunately, successive Philippine administrations place sports low on their list of priorities, if it is placed in the list of priorities if at all. Which is sad. Sure, it is important to provide food and education for the Filipino people, as well as to develop infrastructures that will help our country’s economic development but winning medals in international sports events like the Olympic Games is not just a mere frivolity. Such achievements can go a long way in nation-building as well as promoting one’s pride in being a Filipino.
President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his willingness to give his his full support for the country’ struggling athletes. Maybe this is the good news that our athletes are waiting for as they continue their push for our country’s pursuit of that elusive Olympic gold.
(written by Leslie Monica Mendoza, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Vince Alvin Villarin)
