Guarded optimism in Paris Olympics
FINALLY, after four long years of waiting, the Paris Olympic Games get going this Saturday and the Philippines is among the 206 participating countries that will see action.
There are a total of 32 disciplines, including the only new one, breaking, with 329 events to be contested with two new ones, kayak crossing and kiteboarding.
By the way, there are only five sports that have been consistently played in the Olympics since 1896.
These are athletics, swimming, cycling, fencing, and gymnastics, with athletics and swimming considered as the universal sports where countries are given two free slots, male and female, in each of the two sports.
We have 22 athletes competing this year in nine events, and for those who wish to follow the action for our athletes after the opening ceremonies this Friday, this will help you.
Swimming, with Kayla Sanchez and Jarod Hatch as our bets, starts July 27 till August 4, same with gymnastics that starts July 27 to August 5.
Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo, and Levi Ruivivar will be carrying our colors.
Boxing, with Eumir Marcial, Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas, and Hergie Bacdayan, also begins July 27 to August 10, with August 3 to 10 for the medal rounds, and fencing, with Samantha Catantan, also July 27 to August 5.
For rower Joanie Delgaco, her event is from July 27 to August 3, same timeline as judo where we have Kiyomi Watanabe.
Athletics is scheduled from August 1 to 11, with local bets EJ Obiena, John Cabang Tolentino, and Lauren Hoffman representing us.
Last two events for us are golf and weightlifting where we struck for gold 4 years ago in Rio de Janeiro courtesy of Hidilyn Diaz who unfortunately did not qualify this time.
Golf is set from August 7 to 10 with Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina as qualifiers. Weight lifting will have Eireen Ando, Vanessa Sarno, and John Ceniza seeing action from August 7 to 11, with the added pressure of high expectations following Hidilyn’s achievements in 2020.
Of course for Filipinos, a must evebt to follow is the men’s basketball event, the women’s side maybe if current WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark manages to squeeze herself in the final line-up.
Lebron James, Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis , Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant, and their other All Star NBA teammates are heavy favorites though in previous practice games, South Sudan only lost by a point while defending world champion Germany lost only by four points I think.
Back to our own athletes, best bets for medal finishes will be boxing, athletics, and gymnastics.
Marcial, Paalam, and Petecio will have more than fair chances of going all the way to the finals, same with Obiena and Yulo.
These athletes had the most training abroad, a must for Olympic preparation, for the others, maybe women’s golf, weightlifting, and judo can spring a surprise or two and go beyond the initial rounds.
But I believe we will not go home without medals, mind you, I said it in the plural form, and I do mean that.
After the Paris Olympics, regardless of the results, it would be time to prepare a sustained and well supported program for the next Olympics in Los Angeles, naybe identify already who would have the best chances of qualifying and give them all out support.
This is where my fervent wish is seeing the Philippine Olympic Committee( POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission( PSC) agreeing and collaborating closely on an integrated program for the elite of our elite athletes focused on 2028.
How I really wish to see this happen in my lifetime.
Good luck to all our athletes and the nation’s prayers will be with you.
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