Senator Bong Go called on the country’s sports institutions to keep athletes from becoming casualties of internal disputes, governance problems and financial difficulties within national sports associations, saying those who train and compete for the Philippines should never be made to suffer because of “sports politics.”
Go made the appeal as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports during the panel’s post-evaluation hearing on the Philippines’ participation in the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
“Akala ko sa world of politics lang may pulitika, sa sports din pala may pulitika,” the veteran legislator remarked.
“Hindi dapat ma-apektuhan ang ating mga atleta ng sports politics. Whatever disagreements, governance issues, financial difficulties, or institutional problems may exist among sports organizations, our athletes should never be the ones who suffer,” the seasoned lawmaker stressed.
The committee tackled concerns involving the Philippine national volleyball program following complaints from athletes over delayed allowances and expenses they had to shoulder while preparing to represent the country.
The senator cited the experiences publicly raised by Alas Pilipinas men’s team captain Bryan Bagunas and Josh Ybañez, including reports that some national athletes had to borrow money for transportation to training and spend their own money for meals.
During the hearing, Philippine National Volleyball Federation officials acknowledged that allowances of national team members had remained unpaid since July amid funding difficulties and problems surrounding the federation.
For Go, whatever institutional issues exist behind the scenes must not be transferred to athletes whose primary responsibility should be training and competing.
“Hindi dapat problema ng isang national athlete kung saan siya kukuha ng pamasahe para makapag-training.”
“These are athletes representing the Philippines. Hindi dapat problema ng isang national athlete kung saan siya kukuha ng pamasahe para makapag-training. Hindi dapat sila mangutang para lang makapag-ensayo para sa bayan,” he said.
Go lamented the tendency of institutions and personalities to rally around athletes after victories while leaving them to struggle with basic needs during preparation.
“Alam nyo, ‘pag nanalo ang ating atleta maraming sumasakay kaagad. Pero habang naghihirap sa training pa lang, wala namang nakikiramay o walang nakikisakay sa pagsakay nila ng Angkas papunta sa training,” he said.
“Pakiusap ko lang po sa lahat, konting pagmamalasakit naman sana sa ating mga atleta,” Go stressed.
He said disputes involving leadership, governance and financial accountability are matters that sports organizations must resolve among themselves without compromising the welfare and morale of national athletes.
Go specifically appealed to the Philippine Sports Commission, as the government’s executive arm for sports, to step in whenever institutional conflicts threaten to affect athletes.
“Kayo naman po ang executive arm ng ating gobyerno. Baka pwede ho kayong magpagitna sa kanila,” he told PSC officials.
Using a sports analogy, Go asked the commission to serve as a “referee” when necessary.
“Since we are talking sports naman dito, baka pwede kayong mag-referee para sa kanila minsan. Hindi para pag-awayin, mag-referee para ayusin silang lahat at hindi po maapektuhan ang moral ng ating mga atleta,” he said.
Go assured the PSC that the Senate remains ready to provide legislative and budgetary support while expecting sports institutions to fulfill their respective responsibilities to athletes.
He said the government must also establish mechanisms that allow assistance to continue reaching national athletes even when an NSA encounters governance or administrative problems.
“The government must have mechanisms to ensure that our athletes do not become collateral damage when problems arise within their NSAs or sports organizations.”
“Precisely because of situations like this, the government must have mechanisms to ensure that our athletes do not become collateral damage when problems arise within their NSAs or sports organizations,” Go stressed.
He added that Filipino athletes should be able to concentrate on training, recovery and competition without being forced to navigate institutional quarrels or chase funding already intended for their needs.
“Hindi pwedeng kapag may medalya, lahat tayo proud at nakiki-celebrate, pero habang naghahanda sila, sila lamang ang naghahanap ng paraan para makapag-training, makapagpagamot, makakuha ng international exposure, or worse makahanap lamang ng pamasahe at pagkain habang nag-eensayo,” Go said.
“We cannot demand world-class performances from our athletes if we do not provide them with world-class support,” he added.
Go said the objective of the Senate inquiry is to identify failures in the existing sports system and make concrete improvements ahead of future international competitions.
“Huwag na tayong magsisihan,” he stressed. “Importante po’y masuportahan natin nang maayos ang ating mga atleta.”
