EDITORIAL - Now, it’s time to support our athletes

In the wake of different controversies surrounding the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the time has come for all Filipinos to take a united approach for the success of the region’s most prestigious sporting spectacle.

As the biennial meet formally kicks off tomorrow, Filipinos need to divert their attention from ongoing political squabbling over issues on unfinished facilities, bad food rations, and the expensive cauldron.

The nation’s attention should now center on the need to rally support for our athletes competing against the best in Southeast Asia if we want the country to duplicate its best showing as overall champion in 2005.

To achieve that ultimate goal is not easy since it requires utmost support from every Filipino, regardless of his or her political color. That is why there should be a ceasefire between the administration and the opposition amid the mud-slinging over the country’s controversial handling of the games.

Our athletes badly need our support to boost their morale as they go through weeks of tough competitions against players from other countries. Political division over our hosting of the games only affects their performance and ruins our chances of topping the standings.

In other countries, when it comes to sports, athletes are highly prioritized during international competitions. Their governments would always see to it that players get all the financial and moral support in their quest for gold and glory.

However, in this country, everything surrounding every game is being politicized. Even the procurement of uniforms and the allocation of food allowance for our athletes become an issue. In our hosting of this year’s meet, a cauldron worth P50 million – which is just a tiny fraction of the games’ P7.5 billion overall budget – has been used by the opposition in its attacks against the administration.

Despite the various controversies, it is our hope that our athletes are still on track in their mission of copping the gold. Yes, the nation is highly confident of their good showing as it races for the overall championship.