Funding problems take backseat in coverage of PH Olympic performance

FILIPINO ATHLETES lifted the spirits of the whole nation as they brought home one gold, two silvers and one bronze from the Tokyo Olympics 2020, larger than the medal haul from the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1932. The Philippine delegation finished as the top performing Southeast Asian nation.

Media gave banner and top story treatment to the podium finish of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, boxers Nesthy Petecio, Eumir Marcial and Carlo Paalam. International and local headlines also highlighted the participation of non-medalist athletes such as skateboarder Margielyn Didal, gymnast Caloy Yulo, golfer Yuka Saso, and pole vaulter EJ Obiena. 

Given the display of dedication of the athletes, news coverage understandably refrained from dampening the cheer, setting aside the opportunity to discuss problems related to funding and support. The difficulties experienced by athletes were more fully aired on social media threads.

CMFR reviewed four primetime news programs (ABS-CBN 2’s TV Patrol, GMA-7’s 24 Oras, TV5’s Frontline Pilipinas and CNN Philippines’ News Night) and six Manila broadsheets (Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, The Daily Tribune, The Manila Times, Manila Standard) from July 16 to Aug 10, 2021, covering a week before the Olympics, the whole duration of the Olympics, and 2 days after.  

During the period of review, newscasts and broadsheets produced a total of 1,089 reports on the Tokyo Olympics: with 87 reports in the week before the Olympics, 950 during the games, and 45 reports in the two days following the event.  

Before the gold win, reports of sporting events were relegated only to the sports segments and sports pages. Media stories picked up in number and prominence after Hidilyn Diaz bagged the Philippines’ first gold medal on July 26. It was only after her victory that the Olympics were placed in the first half of news programs as well as in front pages of the newspapers.

Of the 1,089 stories, only 5.32% — 58 reports, 11 TV and 47 print — discussed hardships and the lack of support experienced by the athletes preparing to compete in the Olympics.

Funding issues barely touched

One week before the event, print media called attention to the potential of the 19 Filipino delegates, noting their strengths and medals won in the past. Of the 58 reports on hardships and funding, 46 dwelt on the resiliency and the personal struggles of the athletes, providing a quick view of their long years of hardship and training. Only 12 reports focused on the issue of funding, some of which mentioned specific amounts given by either the public and private sector. 

Coverage did not criticize sports federations and concerned government agencies, except to echo the statement of the Palace which admitted the inadequacy of support. 

Inquirer’s report on July 20, “Billions spent should equate to Tokyo gold for Team PH,” said that since 2016 a total of Php 4.2B  had been released by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), which covered other costs including the hosting of the SEA games. But the report did not provide any information on the sums given to the national athletes.

The public’s enthusiasm over the stellar performance of the Philippine delegation suggests an opportunity for more coverage of the sports they championed and the development of these programs. Sports news should be addressing a wider audience given the interest stoked by the country’s Olympic performance.  Media would do well to sustain this popular interest as the issues raised in 2021 deserve the kind of policy discussion that recognizes the pool of talent that the country has to offer.