Inquirer Last updated 04:04am (Mla time) 11/28/2007
MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines is pinning its hopes on the measurable sports in the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
As for the subjective sports, everything is in doubt.
“The big question mark is the type of officiating we will face in Thailand,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco in Tuesday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue
“In measurable sports (such as swimming and athletics), I think we will do very well. But in subjective sports (like boxing and taekwondo) we have to see about the officiating.”
“We do not differ with the way the POC looks at things,” said Philippine Sports Commission chair William “Butch” Ramirez. “But we’re looking forward to an excellent performance by our athletes.”
Thailand is said to be notorious for hometown decisions, and Cojuancgo said the decision of Thai organizers to limit foreign countries to one referee each in taekwondo could be an early indication of how things will be decided.
In previous stagings of the SEAG, hosts have allowed other countries to bring in three referees each for the competitions. This time, the Thais said they will rely more on “neutral referees.”
But whatever comes out of the officiating, Cojuangco and Ramirez said the 596 Filipino athletes competing in Thailand are raring to do battle.
“Our athletes are out to sustain their performance in the 2005 SEA Games and the 2006 Asian Games,” said Ramirez. “It has created a big impact on our athletes.”
For the first time in SEA Games history, the Philippines, as host, won the overall championship two years ago. And in the Doha Asian Games, it won four gold medals for its best finish in more than 40 years. With a report from June Navarro
Copyright 2007 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Filipino sports execs wary of hometown verdicts
ReplyDeleteInquirer
Last updated 04:04am (Mla time) 11/28/2007
MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines is pinning its hopes on the measurable sports in the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
As for the subjective sports, everything is in doubt.
“The big question mark is the type of officiating we will face in Thailand,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco in Tuesday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue
“In measurable sports (such as swimming and athletics), I think we will do very well. But in subjective sports (like boxing and taekwondo) we have to see about the officiating.”
“We do not differ with the way the POC looks at things,” said Philippine Sports Commission chair William “Butch” Ramirez. “But we’re looking forward to an excellent performance by our athletes.”
Thailand is said to be notorious for hometown decisions, and Cojuancgo said the decision of Thai organizers to limit foreign countries to one referee each in taekwondo could be an early indication of how things will be decided.
In previous stagings of the SEAG, hosts have allowed other countries to bring in three referees each for the competitions. This time, the Thais said they will rely more on “neutral referees.”
But whatever comes out of the officiating, Cojuangco and Ramirez said the 596 Filipino athletes competing in Thailand are raring to do battle.
“Our athletes are out to sustain their performance in the 2005 SEA Games and the 2006 Asian Games,” said Ramirez. “It has created a big impact on our athletes.”
For the first time in SEA Games history, the Philippines, as host, won the overall championship two years ago. And in the Doha Asian Games, it won four gold medals for its best finish in more than 40 years. With a report from June Navarro
Copyright 2007 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.