Monday, July 28, 2008 Padilla: Beijing Olympics fever rising to fever-pitch level By Nars Padilla Sportscope
IT IS 13 days more to go before the Beijing Olympic Games showcases its grand opening pageantry laced with glittering ceremonies at the Birds Nest (Beijing National Stadium) nestled in the heart of China's capital metropolis.
I was watching the CNN World News edition last Friday night focusing on the games. Thousands of Chinese sports enthusiasts were scrambling to buy ticket. It seems that this early, tickets to the games were sold out! Let's see what happens next.
The organizers of the Beijing sports extravaganza are crowing that it will be the best Olympics ever since its birth in Athens, Greece in the 20s. The XXIX Beijing Olympic fever is rising very fast to fever-pitch proportions!
RP Olympic Team Chef de Mission, Bacolod Representative Monico Fuentevella said the 15-man core of athletes in the delegation will attend the send-off ceremony at Malacañang on August 1 together with World Boxing Champion (WBC) lightweight kingpin Manny Pacquiao who has been designated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the official team flag bearer.
Arroyo, the country's number 1 sports patron, is of course expected to deliver an inspirational message to inspire the Pinoy games campaigners and set the tone for their medal drive. Top officials from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will also attend the Palace send-off rites.
Meanwhile, the incentive cash prize for the Pinoy gold medalist in games has been raised to the sum of about P9.5 million. Under Republic Act 9164 otherwise known as the incentive act a gold medal in the Olympics is worth P5 million. The additional prize money of P1 million each from business magnate Lucio Tan, and Microsoft, the pioneer in software, is also at stake.
The Pacman also pledged P1 million while the Philippines Sportswriters Association (PSA) and with their sponsors are putting in the piggy bank P0.5 million.
The newest in the list of donors is No Fear Sports Apparel through Jimmy Ong, a cool P1 million. Caltex, the petroleum giant has also thrown its support to the Filipino Olympians through Chevron, each gamer will be given Star Cash (a pre-paid purchase card) worth P10,000 each.
Every gold medalist and his coach will also be given a three-year supply of Caltex products. Talaga naman! Good ah! More donors to the bonanza prize pot are expected at the doorsteps.
I have the gut feeling that this time around our Olympians will be in the medal row. What color of the medals will remain to be seen? Incidentally, the RP incentive act provides P2.5 million for a silver medal and P1 million for bronze.
Team USA composed of 596 athletes will be moving heaven and earth to retain the Olympic crown it won in Athens four years ago. Their greatest obstacle is of course host China, who by any yardstick has the talent and numbers.
The Chinese athletes in the pool are about 639, the largest ever. China had only 407 athletes in Athens, 311 in Sydney eight years back. And yet China was in the second place in the gold medal ladder with 34 close behind USA in Athens. Russia was third placer.
The Chinese are expected to dominate table tennis, diving and badminton and are targeting some gold medals in women's weightlifting, shooting, cycling, boxing and rowing events.
Who will be the next opponent of WBC lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao is still the US$64 question. It will be decided by his manager Bob Arum and the Pacman himself. And maybe with his famed trainer-coach Freddie Roach. We will know the answer shortly.
Manny is leaving for Los Angeles within the week to settle the issue. Manny at this point in time wants to fight Oscar dela Hoya even at 147 lbs. "If the price is right!" And Roach himself wants this to happen.
He is overwhelming in his belief that his wonderboy Manny Pacquiao, our Filipino icon can win the fight, if and when it will take place. Golden Boy vice president Eric Gomez said GA Promotions is offering no less than US$10 million to the Pacman for the possible encounter.
Negotiations or the multi-million blockbuster will be the main agenda during Manny's trip abroad. Manny said he is ready to take on dela Hoya. It is just the terms on the money side and the fighting weight.
But wife Jinky expressed earlier her fears about the Pacquiao-dela Hoya sked. She, of course, does not want to see her husband hurt or injured. But sooner or later things will shape up and hopefully change her concept.
Just to remind one and all, "Only fools do not change their minds." Dela Hoya lost to Floyd Mayweather last May via decision. He is 35 years old and had on record at least 44 big fights. He is 5 feet 10 inches.
Our megastar is 29 years old and stands at 5 feet seven inches. He holds the world championship belts in at last four division, the best there is by a Filipino or Asian prize fighter. I dare say the best is yet to come for Manny when he tangles with dela Hoya, the Mexican boxing legend.
