Time out for the Holy Week

Philippine sports takes a break for the most part this week in observance of the Lenten season. Most schedules will last at best until Wednesday and will resume only on Easter Sunday.

Like most of us, athletes and sports officials will return to provincial homes, head off to familiar vacation spots or simply stay home to catch up on sleep, chores or relationships. There is time to pause and reflect, tasks that are often set aside in their daily lives.

There is much to reflect upon and it is best for all of us to ponder these points that affect us in the sporting world. These include:

1. Sports officials who disagree and form alliances while the athletes wait for their differences to end so that the business of training and competing can take place peacefully.

2. Our preparations for the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur in August proceeding in earnest. We should prepare not just for gold medals but also for solid performances across all disciplines.

3. More earnest support for sports where Filipinos could excel but lack fan, media and logistical backing.

4. Competitive Gilas and Philippine women’s volleyball team for different international meets. There’s no question that basketball remains the most popular Filipino sport and volleyball is now a fan favorite. These sports need success in overseas tournaments to sustain their fan support.

5. Renewed success for Philippine football. Our involvement in the game should not be pressured to immediately match the game’s popularity in other countries. We are still just learning to play and appreciate the “beautiful game” and it will take some time before we can really fill up our football venues.

6. More exposure for the next generation of Filipino boxers many of whom are already succeeding in bouts abroad but remain relatively unknown except to pundits and ardent fans.

7. More opportunities for children and young adults to get involved in real sports and not just digital versions.

Many of these hopes and wishes will not achieve success immediately because there is so much political and cultural baggage to unload. But let us use this break to reflect on what can still be done while remaining grateful for what we already have.