The real objective of sports

I know that my stand in defense of the embattled Philippine Olympic Committee versus the now-popular Cobra-sponsored national dragon boat team would provoke and raise a lot of pogrom against me. But I welcome the challenge.
In the end, I’ll take solace in the fact that most of my respected sources have always been on my side.
Among them: former POC president Col. Julian Malonso, who once said that winning medals is only secondary; the landmark decision rendered by the Supreme Court giving sports organizers and officials the right to enforce the rules of the game lest there will be chaos and anarchy at all every level in the enforcement of rules of private (or even public) sporting events; and a clarification letter sent by the secretary-general of the Philippine Canoe/Kayak Federation, Joanne Go.
In my last column, I wrote that even though the Cobra dragon boat team won five gold medals and two silvers in the recent 10th International World Championships, Philippine Dragon Boat Federation officials should—first of all—get POC recognition, which is the ruling body for all amateur sports in the country, in order for them to avail of government financial assistance. The PDBF should not put the blame on the POC and the Philippine Sports Commission for not receiving monetary help.
“I, too rejoice with their triumph,” I concluded in my piece, “but I believe the dragon boat team members must not bask in their newfound glory but instead submit themselves to the rules of the POC. Respect for the POC must be shown at all times.”
Now retired and bedridden, the 88-year-old Malonso once said, “the real objective of sports is to develop the youth spiritually, morally, mentally and physically. Winning medals is only secondary.  But the press publishes the number of medals won and the winners of these championships, hence the public is more concerned about them.”
On the other hand, the Supreme Court gave sports officials the right to enforce the rules of the game, stressing that the rules must be strictly followed and it has officials duly elected and authorized to enforce the rules. The High Tribunal’s decision “simplifies sports adjudication to a degree which the larger arena of life does not ordinarily mirror.”
Joanne Go, meanwhile, said the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation team truly deserve accolades.
“Their triumphant campaign in the International Dragon Boat Federation-hosted World Championships in Tampa, Florida, is sizeable adjunct to the equally-elating wins scored in junior world boxing, girls’ softball and the Jones Cup basketball league.
“While we [celebrate] these medals, however, they must not be used to discredit the role of the government agency, the Philippine Sports Commission, in addressing sports concerns and the leadership of the Philippine Olympic Committee, the country’s highest governing body in sports.”
Go also said, “In response to a POC inquiry, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) urged the POC to place dragon boat federation under the supervision of the Philippine Canoe/Kayak Federation as this has been the consistent stand of International Canoe Federation, the IOC-recognized international sports federation (ISF). For the public’s guidance, the sport of dragon boat is not yet an Olympic sport ad hence, the IDBF could be admitted to the IOC.”