[ad_1]
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior reporter
KIM REMOLINO, a silver medalist triathlete at last year’s Southeast Asian Games (SEA), had to train on a treadmill at home for months after Manila and other provinces were blocked in mid-March to contain a pandemic of coronavirus.
His monthly stipend also had to be cut in half to P12,000 as the government funnels its resources to anti-pandemic efforts. International sporting events were canceled, while local ones they have been discontinued until a vaccine is found.
“It’s disappointing because we haven’t kept up our momentum from the SEA Games,” Remolino said via Zoom Cloud Meetings. “There was a feeling of regret about the need to cut our allocations, but I realized that I had to do it because of the pandemic.”
Sports facilities across the country have become quarantine areas for coronavirus patients, as hospitals were overwhelmed by a surge in cases of the virus that has sickened more than 237,000 and killed nearly 4,000 people in the Philippines. .
Traditionally the joy of the city, the local sports community had to take a backseat as the government focused on the battle against the pandemic.
Canceled events include Palarong Pambansa in May and the 10th ASEAN Para Games, which the country was supposed to host this year.
Collegiate members such as the Philippine College Athletic Association (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) were forced to cancel the rest of their seasons earlier this year. Its reopening is uncertain.
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) suspended its 45th season in March but was looking to reopen in October, while the Philippine Soccer League, the Philippine Super League and the Premier Volleyball League have yet to start their tournaments.
“The sports community has suffered,” said Francis Diaz, dean of the College of Human Kinetics at the University of the Philippines, in an online interview. “The effects are also being felt in other sports-related industries, such as fitness gyms and sports equipment stores.”
BUDGET CUTS
Budgets for sports activities and programs were slashed, while commercial league revenue plummeted.
More than 5,000 NCAA workers, including athletes and coaches, have been affected by the pandemic as schools cut their sports budgets as well. The school system is also facing revenue cuts as several students chose not to enroll this year.
“That’s for all schools in all NCAA sports,” Vic Calvo, athletic moderator for Colegio de San Juan de Letran and chair of the NCAA Management Committee, said in an online forum last month.
“We depend on registration for our budget,” he said. “If the budget is cut, sport is the befirst victim. Some schools cut their budgets considerably across the board. “
Stephen Fernandez, former director of Athletic and Olympic Development at the College of Saint Benilde, said they had to recalibrate their athletic program, and that many athletes were sent home when the university applied a full term of online learning.
“The scholarships are intact, but the recruitment of athletes is suspended until further notice,” he said. “Things are better now, but at first it was tough and tough. Some athletes got confused and theirffThey were anxieties due to uncertainties, “he added.
The coronavirus did not spare the UAAP, home to large local universities, with some member schools cutting costs.
“We are lucky at UP because as a state university it didn’t affect us in terms of supporting our athletes,” Diaz said. “I cannot say the same for the other universities, some of which were forced to close some of their varsity teams,” he added.
The extended season suspension is costing the PBA at least P30 million a month, according to PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial. The amount is only for the league orffice and excludes individual equipment losses.
“We are losing revenue from door receipts, television and sponsorships while we continue to pay our staff,” he said. “It is what it is. Even other companies are experiencing this. Good thing we have some savings from which salaries can be drawn,” he added.
National athletes’ allocations also had to be cut by 50% after the government realigned P1.37 billion of the local sports commission’s budget towards the fight against coronavirus andffsite.
“This is a difficult decision to make, but it is necessary so that we can continue to care for our athletes longer,” PSC President William Ramirez previously said.
“I think the athletes are adapting to the situation,” Diaz said. “They can handle the hardships that COVID-19 brings. Of course, everyone has to adjust to the new normal. “
Remolino, mentioned at the beginning, said the global health crisis has opened his eyes and taught him the importance of planning.
“One of the lessons I learned is that sports are not forever and we really have to have a backing,” said Remolino, who is studying to become a civil engineer. “Some athletes put all their efforts into sports to support their families, and in an instant the pandemic is taking them away.”
“We need to have a positive mindset, keep looking to the future and keep improving despite the not-so-ideal situation. The important thing now is our safety ”.
[ad_2]
