Filipino Athletes Compete Without Uniforms in Paris 2024, Sen. Bong Go and Dottie Ardina Express Outrage

by: Edjun Mariposque

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August 10, 2024

2–4 minutes

In a shocking incident at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Filipino golfers Dottie Ardina and Bianca Pagdanganan were left without official uniforms, sparking public outcry and a call for accountability from Senator Bong Go, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports. The situation has raised serious concerns about the support provided to Filipino athletes, despite substantial financial allocations for their participation in the prestigious event.

Sen. Bong Go expressed deep disappointment over the lack of uniforms, emphasizing the significance of these symbols in representing the Philippines on the international stage. “Hindi natin ito inaasahan lalo pa’t isinulong natin ang dagdag na P30 milyon na pondo para lamang sa preparasyon ng ating delegates sa 2024 Olympics,” Go remarked, referencing the additional P30 million allocated to ensure the country’s athletes were well-prepared.

Adding to the controversy, golfer Dottie Ardina voiced her frustrations over the absence of official uniforms during the competition. In a video circulating on social media, Ardina shared her dismay while showing the improvised process of sticking a patch of the Philippine flag onto her store-bought shirt. “We’re only ones without [uniforms]. We even needed to buy t-shirts. What kind of Olympics is this?” Ardina said in Filipino.

Ardina, who wore the same light green top as teammate Pagdanganan during the third round on Friday, August 9, expressed her embarrassment over the situation. “It is embarrassing. There are a lot of people here and we’re the only ones without uniforms,” she lamented, highlighting the visible difference between them and athletes from other nations.

Sen. Go echoed these sentiments, questioning how such a lapse could occur despite the P500,000 financial support provided to each Filipino athlete and para-athlete through the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). He called for immediate answers from the PSC and the concerned national sports association, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation after the Olympics to prevent such issues in the future.

“Malaking bagay ang uniporme, kasi andun ang bandila ng Pilipinas. Iyon ang sumisimbulo sa bansang kanilang inirerepresenta,” Go stressed, underlining the symbolic importance of the uniforms. He vowed to conduct a post-Olympics inquiry to understand the root cause of this failure and to ensure that Filipino athletes receive better support in future international competitions.

Despite the setback, both Go and Ardina expressed their unwavering pride in the Filipino athletes who continue to compete with determination and heart. “Go, Go for Gold!” Sen. Go rallied, encouraging the nation to support their athletes amid the controversy.

The incident has sparked widespread discussion on the adequacy of the support systems in place for Filipino athletes, with many now looking to the PSC and other sports associations for answers. The post-Olympics inquiry promises to shed light on the matter, as the nation seeks to ensure that such a debacle is never repeated.

#Edjun Mariposque

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