I don't agree. If it's just an exhibition or local tournament, then maybe. But it's a country that they're representing. They're representing the Philippines in the world stage. Don't get me wrong, I'm not putting all the blame unto the divers. They trained and possibly... did their best. Their coaches and sponsors should all be held accountable too. Accountable, because they let these divers compete... when they are not yet ready. They should have chosen others, or if there's no one available, then ditch the whole sport altogether.
Everyone makes mistakes, and that's exactly what we saw in the video clips, I'm sure on a different day they would have done the Philippines proud, at the end of the day it is sport and not to be taken so seriously.
Its difficult. On the one hand its good for the guys to experience the event at that level but the flipside is that it can end up as an embarrasment.
What good is experience for them? These athletes who join these international games/Olympics won't get second chances (unless they're from a team sport like basketball or football). Plus there's no professional league for divers. This embarrassing show will stick to them for the rest of their lives. They'll probably find it even hard to be hired as diving instructors/coaches. It can be a sad thing. But that's just how it goes sometimes. They were not yet ready, but they were thrust into the spotlight.... and they fell.
That's exactly what I was thinking when I watched the divers, it also reminded me of the Olympic African swimmer who came in about two minutes behind the rest of the field to a standing ovation from the crowd, just goes to show, "it is taking part that counts" the viewers watching at home respect that.
Having said that i would have expected a nation comprising of f 7000 islands, who's national passtime is swimming and diving for subsistence, would have produced some of the worlds best. Just a pair of trunks required. Just needs nurturing.
I can respect the underdogs. I actually like underdogs. But in this country, if it's not a popular sport, it's hard to get funding. And when it comes to sports, we can be deadly serious. We don't have any Eddy the Eagles here. No Susan Boyles. No Chuck Wepners. We're a society that values only winning or losing. No in-betweens. That's just how Filipino mentality goes. You can think our various colonisers for that.
Hahahahaha... And they said that about football too. Since most Filipinos are short, nimble, and quick, we would be deadly at football. Reason is there's not much height involve. But we're just slowly getting into that sport, with the Azkals and all that. Filipino's notion of sports revolve mostly around basketball, boxing and billiards. Others are treated secondary.
A lot of young girls and people we call, 'conyos' would cry to their graves. Hahahahhaha... Joking aside, the national football/soccer team is getting a lot of funding and media hype. One reason is because the team is composed of stars/models. The other is because they're really improving. It's here to stay.
Its up to the sports development minister in the Philippines to see that sport in the Philippines is well funded and appears on the world stage, its a good advertisement for the country as a whole.
It's actually beginning to get popular. It's not just some fad anymore. In the streets, in the park, in the beach, I usually see playing football now compared to about 10 years ago. Rich, poor, it doesn't matter. Filipinos are starting to like it. I won't be surprised if about five to ten years from now, the Philippines would be able to enter the World Cup and beat England 3-nil. Hahahahahahah... We adapt quite fast.
