The Southeast Asian Games are close to ending, with the host nation Vietnam running away with the overall championship, as expected. Filipino athletes are doing well, and the country will likely end up fourth or fifth, as predicted. The biennial competition has a lot of natural flaws, but nothing will be fixed unless there is unanimity among the member countries. As it stands, there are still many reasons to keep participating.
At the least, we can use it as a measuring stick for where our athletes are, old and new. It is the lowest level of international competition for the Philippines, so each sport has its own goals for joining. For new athletes, it’s the first chance to measure one’s self against other countries. Personal bests in a vacuum or in practice don’t count. Many athletes wilt in front of a live audience and cameras. You have to face real competition in a strict tournament setting.
The SEA Games also serve as a preparatory stage for larger, upcoming events, obviously. Not to belittle the Games, but for many athletes, the Asian Games, Olympics and their own world championships are more important, and need longer planning and prep work. Sometimes, athletes and teams will try out new techniques and strategies at the Southeast Asian level first to determine how effective they are. It’s also the only way to look over the fence to find out what the neighbors are doing. After all, many of our SEA Games rivals will also be in the Asian Games.
The SEA Games are also an affirmation of the country’s dominance in certain sports. It would be unthinkable to lose in basketball, for example. The country did not win the men’s gold in 1989 due to repeated cheating, and in 2005 when the Philippines was suspended by FIBA for having two national federations. Arnis is only held when the Philippines is host. Similarly, it would be unacceptable for other ASEAN nations to lose in badminton, petanque, football and so on. That’s where the Philippines can catch up.
The SEA Games is all about drawing lines in each sport: where to begin, where we stand, how much ground has been gained. For the athletes, it’s the release of pent-up energy and emotions from two years (or more) of training. The pandemic shook the confidence of our athletes and officials. The time in isolation gave them too much time to question, doubt and rethink everything they’ve been doing. As we all know, there is no substitute for actual confrontation. Shaking off the rust and dust is critical for many athletes, who are also concerned about their families’ safety and the time lost. As the saying goes, an idle mind is the devil’s playground. Being back in action is the best medicine.