SEA Games 2011

Yesterday, the 2011 Southeast Asian Games drew to a close.


How many sport trophies, er medals, did our athletes bring home? 36 golds, 56 silvers, and 77 bronzes. Just half as many golds as predicted by the national government agencies in charge of the athletes.
What happened? It’s been a long time since we reigned supreme in the SEA Games. I don’t even remember now if we ever really did. I mean, were we ever in the running for the top spot? Or the second?
Perhaps if our SEA Games athletes had half the attention and support that Manny Pacquiao got on his last fight, they would have been more motivated to win. Or maybe the athletes needed more experienced trainers from sports management colleges. No. I shouldn’t question their motivations, nor their skill.
It’s all this politics about national sports that’s keeping us from moving forward. We have so many talents that are just being wasted.
It’s time we gave priority to searching for talents and training them while they’re young. I remember that group of kids on the Pilipinas Got Talent Season 3 finals. They’d make good gymnasts, I hope they get trained, should they want it.