Bright Olympichopes in peril

Due to Covid-19 threat

MANILA, Philippines — The coming Tokyo Olympics may be the Philippines’ best chance to finally win the elusive gold medal. 

But with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) posing a major threat on the Olympiad’s staging and a possible cancellation already raised by a senior International Olympic Committee official, Filipino bets could see this golden opportunity slip away.

Officials of associations priming up two of the country’s premier bets for Olympic glory – Rio silver medal-winning weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo – certainly hope this won’t be the case.

“My feeling is that the Games shall continue but some notable countries may have to sacrifice for the greater good of the majority. It is not practical anymore and very costly for Tokyo to move the Games some other time for many valid reasons,” said Samahang Weightlifting sa Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella.

“For me, it’s just mass hysteria. It won’t be cancelled,” said Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion.

“It would truly be regrettable if the Olympics are cancelled because of the coronavirus. But cancel them if need be to protect everyone: athletes and spectators. If only some people were more careful in following basic rules,” said athletics chief Philip Ella Juico, whose association has one qualifier so far in pole vaulter EJ Obiena.

In a report by the Associated Press last Wednesday, IOC member Dick Pound said that the IOC has a two-to-three month window to assess the situation and decide whether or not to proceed with the July 24-Aug. 9 Games. Pound said cancellation is the way to go.

The IOC, however, later made it clear that Pound’s statement is not its official position.

Amid anxiety of the Tokyo meet’s status, the buildup continues for Diaz, who recently won two bronzes at the world championships, and Japan-based Yulo, who already qualified after his stellar performance in the world joust highlighted by a historic gold in floor exercise.

“Nothing changes. Our athletes will continue their program. We have one more qualifying event in Uzbekistan in April,” said Puentevella. “Actually, our chances to win gold in weightlifting might be better now, although nobody ever wanted this virus in the first place.”

Yulo, according to Carrion, is doing fine in Japan.

“Tuloy-tuloy (training), no stopping. We only have six months left and we’ll go to Baku (Azerbaijan) for the World Championships on March 12,” said the GAP president.

Carrion said there’s no reason to worry about Yulo’s health. “He doesn’t go out. He stays in the gym, and the (Japanese) coach is very strict about that,” she said, adding:  “And when you’re very strong, especially athletes, you won’t get it.”

Her confidence in Yulo is stronger than ever.

“I feel confident about the chances of Caloy. He has a very, very good chance for gold in floor and possibly silver in vault, and he’ll make the finals in parallel,” Carrion said.