The City of Dumaguete just got another feather on its cap. This is the second year in a row that it has been named as Sports Tourism Organizer of the Year in the government category during the 3rd Philippine Sports Tourism Awards in Manila.
It was given in recognition for the City’s hosting of several sporting events from Little League Baseball, Beach Volleyball, and several other events.
With the award in the bag, the city officials and a few others left for China.
Maybe in their haste to leave for China immediately after the awarding, they were unable to recognize our athletes who were competing in the games, as a true supporter of grassroots sports would.
Our home-grown archers like Jennifer Chan, Phoebe Nicole Amistoso, Pia Elizabeth Angela Bidaure, Gabrielle Monica Bidaure, and Carson Francis Hastie; and our very own Eleazar “JR” Barba in mountain biking.
It was, therefore, no surprise for many to read a post on social media about Dumaguete athletes competing in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games who did not get any support from their City prior to their departure for the Games.
The omission became more obvious as JR Barba started getting recognition from all over the country after he won a silver medal in the Mountain Biking – Men’s Downhill competition.
True to what some netizens guessed, the City scrambled to recognize Barba and the other athletes on its social media page, with a promise to give them their due recognition and incentive.
While we are proud of what our athletes have accomplished in the SEA Games, we cannot help but wonder if their performance could have been better had they been given recognition or a proper send off prior to the Games.
Recognition could have come in many forms, not just in terms of financial support. The knowledge that their own community is rooting for their success would have been a big thing.
This will not be the last time our athletes will see action in international sporting events. We can only hope that things will get better next time around.