It is something that I am excited about every year as a sports fan: a
multi-sport event. Before, my reason was that this is an opportunity for me to
get a sportscasting gig. It was my only chance for me back then to get a gig on
TV so it was an exciting time for me; watching and trying to learn the different
sports that was present on the event. It was a real necessity. For a country
where sports coverage is mainly basketball-dominant, a sports broadcaster doesn’t
have that luxury of resources to prepare for, an example, a taekwondo match.
Back when I started during the 2012 London Olympics for AKTV (TV5), YouTube was
not that rich yet on sports clips of the different athletes that I need to
cover, so I heavily relied on Wikipedia. Year 2017 was a different story; you
can practically simulate a broadcast of a weightlifting event through watching
a YouTube clip of it. So when I did the 2017 SEA Games for PTV-4, it was just
like a YouTube simulation for me.
This time, we have the Asian Games in Jakarta, and I am still
experiencing the same level of excitement I had six years ago for the Olympics,
but this time for a different reason. And also this would be the reason why you
should be excited too, or at least be interested to look in to.
Aside from your favorite basketball or volleyball players, there are
other athletes who will be competing in the games. Try to put yourselves in the
shoes of the athletes even before the games start. Their interaction is pretty
much limited to the people who join them in their training. When the games
come, there might be a 10 percent increase in the number of people. Once things
start to fall down for the athlete, the same will be felt by his/her training
buddies. Where else could the athlete get strength if he/she is stuck in that
situation? It is where moral support comes in. Yes! The fans! If you think this
is just a sporting cliché, then you’re so wrong. Just ask Barangay Ginebra.
Athletes need fans’ attention too. Who doesn’t? You have your circle of
friends as your support group, right? So does the athletes. They’d just
appreciate a larger support group because they are carrying the entire nation
on their shoulders as they compete. Ipinaglalaban
nila tayo… karapat dapat lang na suklian natin ang paghihirap nila, and
supporting them is an excellent way of showing it. Watch their games.
Congratulate them on their win. Tell them compliments or endearments when they
lose. They might accept criticisms if they feel like it. What would it mean to
them is that they will know people are paying attention, and that would give
them enough motivation to be better the next time they compete.
As I have said, there are other events aside from basketball and
volleyball. Paying wider attention aside from those two primary sports in the
country will give you an opportunity to discover other sports, and may play
with the idea that Filipinos can excel in a certain sport aside from those two.
Imagine, you decided to watch a “Poomsae” event even though you do not know
what the heck it is. Just watch it. Throw the remote control away from you.
Then your little brother, or sister, or your kid, or any young people inside your
house came across with what you are watching. And that kid got interested. And
that kid soon decided he/she wanted to train poomsae. And that kid became so
good at it. And that kid soon was able to learn full combat taekwondo and
became so good at it as well. That kid might become a medalist for the SEA
Games, or the Asian Games, or the Olympics! All because it all started with a
dude just deciding to watch poomsae on TV. Awareness brings interests, interests
brings dreams, dreams brings desire, and desire brings success.
Lastly, this is an opportunity to witness moments in sports. They may
not be as significant as seeing a unified Korea march as one during the opening
ceremonies, but they are sure all be worthy of a story to be told in certain
times, such as me talking about gracefulness, flexibility, and precision in
execution of movements with the apparatus on national television. It is still
the most macho sport that I covered up to this date: rhythmic gymnastics, 2017
SEA Games.
Support. Awareness. Appreciation. Our three reasons why you and me
should watch the 2018 Asian Games; Jakarta and Palembang.
P.S. Of course I also want to cover the games. Hello ESPN 5! I miss
you!
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Follow the writer on Twitter and Instagram: @sportscastengr
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