Sports destination

Over the weekend, Cebu was so busy with the return of the long-awaited triathlon. The Ironman 70.3 race brought back together different groups that were so sports-savvy. It involved a route for swim, bike, and run in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-lapu, Mandaue, and this year with the special addition of Cordova town.

Of course, it was a great improvement that our economy is slowly getting back on its feet. The triathlon wouldn’t just involve bringing cash in for the organizers, it’s an economic driver. Imagine, one athlete doesn’t just show up on the day of the race. The person would check in at a hotel of choice along with his or her support team. They would eat at local restaurants and go to must-see tourist destinations on free days. Their mode of transportation would also tap locals to bring them around the different areas.

There is no denying that the international sporting event is helpful for Cebu. However, I’m starting to see how we are getting nothing in return. It seems like the different government units are squeezing their budget to allot money for the event. They need to spend for responders, PNP, volunteers, and other agencies needed to be on standby on the day itself. The city needs to make sure that there will be no untoward incident or otherwise, their area will be placed in the limelight. This is something that would badly damage our image.

I now see past the social capital that the officials are banking on. In reality, it is expensive and costly to host a triathlon. There are a lot of things to do to look after the welfare of the guests. Days before the race, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Ahong Chan complained that the roads are not even in top shape. This, and many other issues hound the local government units.

Although government agencies take these complaints as blessings in disguise, I think they should be addressed with or without a race. As part of their job to make the lives of Filipinos better, a quick tour around the cities can give them an idea of what their area needs.

Sports events are another form of tourism, which I also agree with. However, it would be hard to sacrifice a chunk of our government's budget on events like these. We can maybe do it every other year, that way the excitement increases. The more there is something to look forward to, the more excited one becomes.

Then again, we live in a capitalist society where everything is being paid for. Even athletes pay thousands to join, it would be a different story if they lose a chunk of income. Maybe a post-assessment would help between organizers and other stakeholders. However, that is subject to attendance and attention.