Saturday, June 23, 2007 Change in Milo rules unfair: Guardo
SPORTSMAN Jonathan Guardo described as unfair the reported changes in this year’s 13th edition of the Milo Little Olympics in October.
Milo had decided in a national assembly of all organizers that all those who have competed in international tournaments will not be allowed to join the meet.
“It is unfair. Importante kaayo ang regular competitions for the athletes,” said Guardo, founder of the Greater Cebu Sports Organizing Committee.
Guardo wants the athletes he supported and took to last summer’s Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia to still join the athletic meet. This way, he said, they can have added exposure as they prepare for next year’s International Children’s Games in San Francisco, USA.
Good exposure
“Milo could have been a good exposure for my athletes as they will be challenging athletes of different caliber,” Guardo said.
GCSOC Executive Director Allan Torrevillas shared Guardo’s concern.
“Milo and GCSOC have one intention, which is to develop grassroots. Arafura Games, as we all know, is also a grassroots-level competition. It is not the Olympics,” said Torrevillas.
He said it is even good that the other athletes in the tournament will be challenged by having as competitors athletes who competed outside the country.
“It will give them (athletes) a reason to strive harder to be better because they are going against good players,” Torrevillas said.
Milo Olympics organizer Ricky Ballesteros defended their decision saying that they came up with it to develop grassroots athletes.
The Milo rules used to state that those who have participated in international competitions and are receiving honoraria from the Philippine Sports Commission are not allowed to join the competition.
Ballesteros said that there are athletes whose skills are already way above the rest and who can afford to compete internationally.
To prevent any confusion, they decided to purge all athletes with international experience.
“I fought for permitting the Arafura Games participants to still join because I know the level of competition in the Arafura. We allowed it here in Cebu last year. However, to avoid confusion, we just generalized it, where everyone who have competed internationally will be barred from joining para wala nay lusot,” Ballesteros said.
Not everyone, however, was disappointed by the development.
University of Cebu swimming coach Rolando Alvarez said that he applauds Ballesteros and Milo for their unyielding decision on the matter.
“Mura na ko ug kontra bida every meeting because I always fight to follow the rules. It’s only fair,” Alvarez said. (MCB)
