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Thursday, July 28, 2005
Oyson: Do we have P100 million to cover the Seag?
By Manuel N. Oyson, Jr.
Counter Punch
Who would wish to watch the Southeast Asian Games in Manila on Nov. 27 to Dec. 5? And in some other selected venues outside it? For the opening and closing ceremonies perhaps, spectators would flock to the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the games’ main arena. Others may just prefer to stay at home and follow the results on radio, television and the printed medium. Motor-vehicle traffic alone in Metro Manila is a nightmare, even late in the evening.
Besides, what would be so hot about our hosting this biennial Seag that one must need go to RMSC? Besides, the Philippines may not even be able to defend its Men’s basketball championship because of the suspension handed down by the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) after the national Olympic committee bumped off the Basketball Association of the Philippines from its membership.
WAIT AND SEE. For now, the Philippines is still assuming a wait-and-see stance hoping that before the games roll four months from now, the Fiba would have already reconsidered its decision and reinstate the country as a member in good standing. Otherwise, our national basketball team may just be a team bound to nowhere (with apologies to Sen. Ping Lacson on his own Sona, “Bridge to Nowhere”), despite its participation in the Global Hoops Summit in Las Vegas and even now making waves, so far, in the Jones Cup in Taipei.
But even to broadcast the SEA Games on television live or delayed basis, is already posing a lot of nightmare to the Games organizers. The Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc) and the government-owned National Broadcasting Network estimate they need no less than P100 million for international broadcast coverage of the games.
BATTALION. They include expenses for a battalion of some 500 to 600 people needed to beam the games during the nine-day sports enclave. The two will share the expenses for manpower, equipment, cameras, outside broadcast (OB) vans, technical and production needs. On the forefront would be the technicians, researchers, cameramen and sportscasters. Foreign broadcasters would also be in town to cover the 15 to 29 sports disciplines on tap for their home audiences.
Indonesia and Malaysia want full coverage of badminton where they are tops, even by Olympic standards. Thailand also wants boxing and sepak takraw to be given full airing in their country. Funding sources for the broadcasts have not been disclosed. We do not know what sports Philippine media would probably give full coverage. Basketball is still a question mark unless the Fiba softens.
NO WORRY. Live or delayed broadcasts of international events on national TV have not always been a welcome treat, unless they are epic in scope. The constant commercial breaks are always nauseating, irritating and sometimes bore one to death. Besides, no one likes to watch a countryman fail in a sporting arena. Filipinos are not sadists or masochists who relish watching their own kind get lopsided beatings in international sports, except basketball fanatics.
While at it, Philsoc chairman Robert Pagdanganan continues to assure everyone that it’s all systems go for the Seag. He has been saying this since he was named to the post last year. And we are four months away from that prophecy. To him, the current political turmoil rocking the government is nothing to worry about. Security measures are already in place to protect everyone and in all the venues where they may be held. On to the Seag! Or bust.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “My time is up. I don’t crave attention. I don’t crave signing autographs.” – Cyclist Lance Armstrong, 34, after winning his record seventh straight Tour de France title
(mno@sunstar.com.ph)
(July 28, 2005 issue)
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