What’s important is for the sports leaders to commit to doing the right thing. No lip service. No hidden agendas. They talk of grassroots development but where is the program, where is the budget and where is the vision? They talk of introducing science and technology in training athletes but where is the program, where is the budget and where is the vision? They talk of the value of foreign competition but where is the program, where is the budget and where is the vision?

It’s not enough to mouth the usual things that are quotable whenever Filipino athletes come home from a dismal performance abroad. Courageous effort. Luck of the draw. Unexpected injuries. Bad calls. Learning experience. The exposure will go a long way. And so on and so forth. You’ve heard the same things over and over again.

Obviously, a shotgun approach won’t get the Philippines very far in the medal standings. Limited resources will demand a sharper plan of action, keying on particular sports where Filipinos can excel.

For a country like the Philippines where we love sports with a passion, bringing back only three gold, three silver and nine bronze medals from Guangzhou is a blow to our pride. Nine countries in Asia collected at least 10 gold medals. Our Southeast Asian neighbors Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore harvested at least four gold medals. Hong Kong hauled in eight gold, 15 silver and 16 bronze medals with a population of seven million compared to the Philippines’ 92 million.

The three Bs accounted for the country’s gold strike – billiards (Dennis Orcullo), boxing (Rey Saludar) and bowling (Biboy Rivera). It’s no secret that those sports give us more of a chance to excel than others. However, billiards and bowling are not in the Olympic calendar so if the goal is gold for London in 2012, boxing appears to be the only way in.

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Before anything else, it’s vital to make sure the country’s sports infrastructure is established. That means actualizing the system of sports development from the grassroots to the elite level. It also means the formulation of a blueprint where the aspects of priority sports, talent identification and a support framework are clearly defined.

In singling out priority sports, we shouldn’t rule out team events where the cost-benefit ratio is by nature disadvantageous. It’s easier to justify spending for one boxer to go for one gold medal than 12 basketball players to shoot for one gold medal. But we shouldn’t lose the perspective of enjoying sports. Basketball is a sport that Filipinos love. Whether it loves us back is a question mark. Still, it’s a sport that Filipinos enjoy and even if basketball is good for only one gold medal
, spending for a team of 12 players has a positive value. Victory in sports, after all, doesn’t just come from winning.

Sports requires a program for the future and for the present. For the future, grassroots development is essential. It’s a king-sized headache to go all over the country to set up breeding grounds but it’s the only way to grow. This responsibility should be borne by the National Sports Associations in coordination with the Department of Education (which organizes the Palarong Pambansa) and local government units. For the present, the focus is elite development with the PSC assuming this responsibility.

Every step of the way, the POC and the PSC must be in close contact. Neither should operate independently of each other. Teamwork is a must, particularly as resources are scarce. From their vantage point, there must not be any political grandstanding. Sports officials must be sincere, transparent and honest in what they’re doing. Fighting over turf and money breaks down the athletes’ morale. How can sports officials motivate athletes if they’re not respected?

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The support framework is crucial and we’re not just referring to money. Athletes must be given world-class coaching, training and conditioning. Like Manny Pacquiao. The

latest trends in sports science and technology must be available for our athletes because nobody wants to get left behind in the race to advance. Nutrition, sports psychology for mental toughness, behavior and attitude are just as important to factor in an athlete’s development as strength and conditioning.

There is no question the Philippines has an abundance of talented athletes with the potential to excel at the global stage. The problem isn’t the athletes. The problem is how they’re discovered, nurtured, trained and motivated to succeed.

The elements of a program, budget and vision will substantiate where Philippines sports is headed. Government has a major role to play in promoting sports as a source of pride and honor for the country. Let’s hope the sports summit scheduled this Saturday will provide the way to a bright future.

Joaquin Henson, Philippine Star