Sunday, July 20, 2008 Venue disappoints foreign fighters
FOREIGNERS competing in the 10th World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation have arrived for the competition slated to start on Wednesday and as part of their preparation, they went to the venue at Ayala Center Cebu to inspect the playing area.
However, it did not merit the nod of some foreign participants.
“We went there to look at the layout of the playing area. The venue is too small compared to international standard and there is a construction going on beside it,” said Ermar Alexander of the British delegation bannering the Danny Guba Doce Pares group.
Disappointment
Alexander, a two-time Wekaf world champion and four-time undefeated British Low Armor champion, also said that it was somewhat a disappointment compared to the venue of the world championships in 2006, which was in a hotel inside the Disneyworld in Florida.
Alexander though said that he, as well as his fellow countrymen, understood why it had to be held at the mall so that it will be brought closer to the locals.
“The Filipinos should see that a lot of foreigners are passionate about their local martial arts. That is why we understand that it is held there. However, we expected a bigger area and many are disappointed,” he said.
Alexander said he also want to have more Filipinos watch the competition, but the venue could not allow a lot of spectators because of how small it is.
The venue could barely accommodate all the participants at one time, therefore defeating the purpose of bringing the sport to the local spectators. The competition attracted more than 500 foreign fighters from 26 countries and more than 100 Filipino fighters.
“It would have been better if the space was bigger, but the site is small and the world championship must go on. Anyway, we trust Grandmaster (Dionisio) Cañete that it will work,” Ermar added.
Alexander said one setback of a small venue is that in the heat of the moment in sparring, there is a chance that the fighters could jump to the next court. It is also disadvantageous to the foreign fighters, who are bigger in built.
“It will be hard for those with wide stance in the forms competition,” he said.
Despite this, the championships, a biennial event, will have to go on. “We are here for the fight. That is what we came here for,” said Ermar.
Cañete said that they will just have to take advantage of the venue that they had. “All that could happen is that we will just have to make do with what we have. Let’s see what will happen during and after the tournament,” Cañete said. (MCB)
