SPORTS AND THE PANDEMIC
Artemio S. Lagazon
Sports has been and will always be a part of every Filipino. Either competitively, for exercise or for recreation, more often than not everyone enjoys the thrill of it. As an athlete or as a spectator, the time spent in sports may be an hour or two in a single day.
Before the spread of the present pandemic around December 2019, athletes are busy competing in their own leagues. In the grassroots level, competitions are at its’ peak and preparations are being done for bigger meets. As a sports official in a school division in the locality we have organized and executed the City Meet. W inners were selected in each event to represent the city or province for the Regional Meet of Central Luzon. After the selection process, the rigid training of all student athletes began in January 2020. During that time news have already spread about the Corona Virus.
The trainings were pushing through because only a few cases of positive Covid 19 individuals were reported in the country. Then as a precautionary measure, there was an order from the region in early February that all sports training of students preparing for the Regional Meet should stop. This was the time of uncertainty were officials cannot decide whether or not to continue the scheduled meet. After a week of stoppage, we received a memorandum again that everything will push through. Then only after 2 days from the notice, we were again ordered to stop all trainings and preparations for the Regional Meet. This time the decision was with conviction and the Department firmly believes that the health and safety of the student athletes and all officials should be prioritized. All sports events were cancelled in the Department of Education. All other leagues from the barangay level to the professional ranks cancelled their games.
By March 12, 2019 most of the local governments in the Region have declared the ECQ and all the entry and exit points have been manned by military personnel to implement the lockdown. Curfew was imposed to barangays and all physical activities including sports have been ordered to stop. Fitness Centers were required to close their facilities temporarily. Basketball rings were removed from the boards. Residents are required to stay in their homes to prevent the spread of the virus.
Since the writer is involved in the school sports program with basketball organizing and officiating as his part-time job, there were numerous inquiries from parents and players raised. When will the training of student athletes resume? Will the CLRAA meet be moved to another date? When will the championship of our inter-batch tournament be set? These are just some of the questions asked to the writer. All these were answered by saying we have to prioritize our safety first, right now all we can do is pray that this Pandemic will end soon. The date is indefinite and we are all hoping for the best to come.
Eventually, everyone was convinced that we do not have to risk our life by acquiring this disease from playing sports. Yes, we all have witnessed the hardships and the developments of the athletes from their competitions. But we have to keep in mind that living is more important than winning championships.
It was just saddening for some teams that the opportunity to win and show their talents was to put to waste because of the pandemic. Some of these teams have showed great improvements and have won all their preliminary tournaments. Now that the 2019-2020 school year have ended, the line-up of players will not be the same again.
For the players and athletes who still has a chance to show and exhibit their talents this coming school year, they have continued to train individually in their own little way. In their own backyard courts, in their mini-gyms, and other ways they could improve their fitness and physique. Some focused on developing their individual skills. Others are doing cardio activities by jogging and biking. And others lift weights and perform strengthening exercises. Hoping that one day this pandemic will end and everything will return to normal.
But right at this moment, this is the new normal. Everyone should adapt from it and make the best out of it. Of course with one thing in mind, be healthy, stay in shape and always be cautious of the existing risk of the virus. In God’s time, only He can heal the world.
The author is Teacher
--oOo-
III at Angeles City National Trade School.