Ironman weekend

Brace yourselves, Cebu, as one of the biggest sporting events will take place again here. This is not the first time that an event as prestigious as the ironman Asia-Pacific championships will be held in our place. For years we have become accustomed to the rush that comes every August from fully-booked hotels, influx of passengers coming in and, of course, the traffic that comes with it. I have witnessed the ironman several times, mostly because of my work. I don’t like the hassle of waking up early to avoid road closure. I also do not certainly enjoy looking at how fast the athletes are, especially when you are waiting for your favorite artista to pass by (Hello, Piolo Pascual).

To some extent it has greatly helped the economy of Cebu. It has welcomed many tourists and opened many opportunities. They say that one ironman athlete equates to five other people as they bring in spectators. The business sector has benefited immensely from this event for years and I bet they wouldn't want to lose such a great opportunity.

But what about our local government units? Have they benefited as well? It has come to my knowledge that the cities involved in the ironman have to shell out a huge amount of money for the participants. They host nights for the guests and feed and entertain them. They pay for the overtime salary of the personnel that are to be deployed during the race day itself. What do the cities and the province get in return?  A good mileage for promotion as a destination and bragging rights. The economic effect that is ideal is not seen or even felt at the moment.

While we welcome rare sporting events such as these, we must be open to the thought of asking the organizers for a fee or a least for a notable donation for the development of the city. If this is supposedly a win-win situation between the sporting world and Cebu, then let it be felt and seen. Let the people know that we get something viable out of this despite all the hassle we all have to go through.

Well, I love seeing Papa P during the different pre-ironman events. That's just me, and that does not compare to the many sacrifices the LGUs have to make for the event. After almost ten years, maybe it is time to look into the partnership we have with the organizers of the event. Has Cebu been gaining, or losing at the very end?

On another note, may the best athlete win! We will still be cheering on the sidelines for the guests and the locals. If this is what it takes to motivate everyone to get fitter, then I guess we can meet at a crossroad. I hope this becomes an eye-opener for everyone. As we enjoy the festivities of this sport, let us keep in mind what some had to give up in exchange for the ironman.