Pangasinan Today

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday urged sports officials to use the Beijing Olympics as gauge to prepare for the London Games in 2012.

Escudero lamented that the country is still lagging behind its Southeast Asian neighbors as far as chances of winning an Olympic gold are concerned.

“It’s a fact that our athletes are pressed to win an Olympic gold medal, but pre-Olympic predictions, which are based largely on results of previous qualifying tournaments and other strong meets, hardly count our athletes among the serious bidders.

There are only a handful with a real strong chance,” Escudero said. “Not even those predictions could stop our athletes, I am sure. But if we can only do something to improve their lot, that would be better.”

“Hindi na tayo pwedeng umasa sa patsamba-tsamba, kailangan natin ay mga epektibong programa,” said Escudero, who observed that President Gloria Arroyo failed to rally the athletes in their drive for a gold medal in the Beijing Games during her State of the Nation Address on Monday.