For the third time since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, we came home empty-handed. But at least we got a Gold Medal consolation from Willy Wang for the Wushu event. Although this was just a demo event and is not part of the main Olympic sports. Nonetheless, it was wonderful to see fellow Pinoy Willy as he was raising the Philippine flag. Even though he looks more like a Chinese than a Filipino and has a Chinese twang, at least he can sing the Philippine national anthem.

Here are the rankings of other Asian countries:

• Rank 1 – China: 51/21/28 (gold/silver/bronze)
• Rank 7 – South Korea: 13/10/8
• Rank 8 – Japan: 9/6/10
• Rank 29 – Kazakhstan: 2/4/7
• Rank 31 – Thailand: 2/2/0
• Rank 33 – North Korea: 2/1/3
• Rank 42 – Indonesia: 1/1/3
• Rank 50 – India: 1/0/2
• Rank 71 – Malaysia: 0/1/0
• Rank 71 – Singapore: 0/1/0
• Rank 71 – Vietnam: 0/1/0
• Rank 80 – Chinese Taipei: 0/0/4

Once again, China, South Korea and Japan proved their dominance in Asia and in the international stage as they graced the Top 10 nations with most medals. Thailand, on the other hand affirmed their lofty position as the powerhouse in the Southeast Asian region, followed by perennial contender, Indonesia. Our neighbors, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam secured their 71st slot with one silvers each. And guess what we got? Zero.

Headlines here and there consider this year’s Olympic bid as the “Biggest Flop in Philippine Sports”. Well, I think our performance during the 24th SEA Games was worse than this. Dropping from being the champions as many anticipated to a very disappointing sixth place. We also failed to send our volleyball teams in the SEA Games for reasons I cannot comprehend.

What is the problem with Philippine Sports? We do have talented athletes I think. A sports official explains that other countries spend a lot more (at least double) than we do so that’s why we really did not stand a chance against these developed countries. That they trained for years in order to prepare for international sporting events like the Olympics while us on the other hand, only devoted months of training for preparation. We think short-term. And this is just one of the many problems.

While the government is spending millions of pesos on senseless projects that obviously are avenues for graft and corruption, our Filipino athletes and Philippine Sports in general are suffering sad to say. As much as our athletes would like to train and excel, they could not. How could they if they do not have sufficient funding for world-class training to begin with.

Most of our talented Filipino athletes come from far flung provinces, leaving their families behind just lo live their passion for sports and bring honor to our country. Many calls are being made nowadays. Some say that we should start preparing as early as now for the 2012 London Olympics and the coming Olympics’ beyond that, and the coming Lao SEA Games next year and the 2010 Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou, China. Some suggest that all PSC and NSA officials should step down to give way to brighter, more idealistic and dynamic minds to route Philippine Sports back on track. But I wonder if these calls will be heeded and significant changes will take place.

So what are your thoughts about the recently concluded Beijing Olympics?

• BOXING
  Harry Tanamor
• SHOOTING
  Eric Ang
• ARCHERY
  Mark Javier
• WEIGHT LIFTING
  Heidilyn Diaz
• DIVING
  Shiela Mae Perez
  Rexel Ryan Fabriga
• TAEKWONDO
  Tshomlee Go
  Mary Antoinette Rivero
• SWIMMING
  Miguel Molina
  Ryan Arabejo
  James Walsh
  Daniel Coakley
  Christel Simms

Actually, I only got 13 on the list above. But the latest news indicate there will be 15 delegates. Anybody knows who the other 2 Pinoy athletes are?

Marco Torres says:

Just 14 days to go before the Olympics. Don’t forget, it opens 08-08-08, 8pm. Catch it on HDTV. The Opening Ceremonies will surely be awesome with Zhang Yimou of Hero and House of Flying Daggers directing. It will be more spectacular than acrobatics, kung fu and opera combined. It will also be the time they will reveal the final torchbearer (Muhammad Ali in Atlanta ’96 and Abroginese athlete Cathy Freeman in Sydney) and how the torch will be lit (via bow and arrow in Barcelona and from underwater in Sydney). It will be so exciting!

There’s an on-going exhibit in the Mall of Asia to commemorate the event. They feature the Pinoy athletes competing in the Beijing Olympics. They featured me as well so it’s a great, great honor.

Check it out if you happen to pass by.

Marco says:

And I did thanks to all of you. This is for all of you. It was the most amazing experience of my life. Nothing beats achieving a dream and doing something for your country.

It has been quite a hectic past few days. Despite the long wait, the many changes in schedule, the tight security where most expat torchbearer’s families were not able to watch, and many other things, carrying that glorious torch was more than worth it.

It was especially nice to have been given an opportunity to bring smiles to kids of rural China as well.

So thank you again to all your support. You and the rest of the Filipinos who supported and voted for me carried the torch with me every step of the way. Para sa ating lahat ito.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Mabuhay tayong lahat.

Marco Torres

Here’s a collection of articles, photos shared by Marco, and video clips over the web that featured the event:

• Filipino Torch Bearer over the moon
  South China Morning Post
• ‘It was a dream come true’ says Filipino Olympic torch bearer
  ABS-CBN Online
• Filipino, 5 other torchbearers bring love to China kids
  Inquirer.net Sports
• Pinoy Olympic torch bearer relates experience
  GMANews.tv Video

Selected photos from Marco:

Taken from GMANews.tv under Video section:

It’s going to be today!!! In case you haven’t heard, fellow Filipino Marco Torres has been selected as one of eight expats to carry the Olympic Torch for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The last time a Filipino held the torch was 44 years ago during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Today will be a historic day for Marco and all the Pinoys around the globe.

I used to play volleyball with Marco a long time ago. All I can say is that he’s a very passionate person in whatever he engages into. So when I heard about the Expats for Olympic Torchbearers, it was a pleasant surprise to learn that Marco joined it. He started his campaign back in October 2007. He got as far as getting interviewed in numerous TV and radio shows. Here’s one of them:

All efforts were paid off. Thanks to the support coming from the Filipino community, Marco Torres became one of the eight expats to carry the Olympic Torch. He got the second most number of votes with a total of 13,342.

Background Info on the 2008 Beijing Olympics Torch Relay

• The Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay is the largest Torch Relay in the history of the Olympic Games.
• Theme: “Journey of Harmony” and slogan: “Light the Passion, Share the Dream.”
• It is taking place from March 24th until August 8th, 2008, traveling through 21 cities outside Mainland China and 113 cities or prefectures in Mainland China. The Relay will cover approximately 137,000 kilometers and involve more than 21,880 torchbearers.
• The official torch lighting took place in Olympia, Greece on March 24, 2008. The international portion started on March 24 and concluded on May 3. Now, the torch is traveling in Mainland China up to August 8.

In case anyone is interested, you can see the the itinerary for the Lanzhou torch relay over here. Marco says:

I will carry the torch on Monday, the 7th of July and return to Manila the next day on Tuesday, the 8th. I will stay in Manila for a week. I’ll have the torch then along with a DVD of the torch relay and photos as a gift from Beijing Olympics committee.

You can reach me in Manila at 721-1501 (721-1505 Tuesdays onwards) or via cell# 0906-291-7099. See you then! I can’t believe it’s finally happening. Thanks again for your continued support.

Hopefully everything will run smoothly today as Marco Torres carries the torch for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I’ll be watching the news today and hopefully get a glimpse of the relay. Good luck Marco!

A fellow Filipino, Marcos Antonio Torres has just become one of eight expats to carry the Olympic torch for China. He is the only Filipino by the way who got the second most number of votes with a total of 13,342. Marco will be doing his leg and carry the Olympic torch on July 7, 2008 at Lanzhou in Gansu province. Here’s an update coming from Marco:

First, I want to thank you again for all the support you gave me to the run up to the competition. I wouldn’t have made it without you. The media coverage you provided surely had a great effect on propelling me to the number 2 spot. And, thanks to that, a Filipino will carry the torch again for the first time since the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Here is the results page just in case you haven’t seen it. Any other information regarding the torch, you may visit this website.

The above information has info on everything about the torch, i.e. the itinerary, the name of prominent torchbearers like Andy Lau, Jacky Chan, Ian Thorpe, Gabriella Sabatini etc. I’m sure you heard of its controversial world tour particularly in France and the UK. It has been quite peaceful here in China though and much welcomed by thousands of people with singing and dancing.

I want to update you though that I will be doing my leg already on June 25th, 2008 at Lanzhou in Gansu province. It will be an exciting experience complete with a torchbearer’s reception by the city government, a visit to orphanages with kids affected by the earthquake, and many others.

As I would like to share this with the people who voted for me, I would like to inform you that Lenovo and BOCOG says that this can be possible. They said the actual leg can be covered live or footages can be sent on actual time. I am not sure about the mechanics but I can confirm further if you are interested.

Additionally, I am excited to say that I will be keeping the torch I will use. Apparently, its the flame you pass and not the torch, which means I get to keep my torch. I am excited because I plan to return to Manila after I carry the torch, perhaps on the latter part of June which means I can share and show the torch with the rest of our countrymen.

Let me know if you’d like to be a part of it.

All the best,

Marco

Hi guys, I’m sure all the news are reaching you. It had quite a controversial run or trot or jog in London (where someone tried to grab the torch while another waited for it with a fire extinguisher) and Paris (where a man attempted to grab it from a girl on a wheelchair who is now so popular here). In San Francisco, they had to re-route the relay to the dismay of both the pro-China and pro-Tibet revelers. As my mom whose based in Sacramento says, “Chinese people I know who traveled all the way to see the torch in San Francisco felt robbed.”

It was peaceful though in most other cities like Buenos Aires, Argentina and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania as well as in Muscat, Oman.

It’s sad that all the disruptions are causing the IOC to think twice about having the international leg in the future. They are considering limiting the torch between Greece and the host country. This means, unless the Philippines hosts the Olympics (which may not happen for many lifetimes), the torch will not pass our country again. As well as many other countries other than the UK, France and the US where they had the most widespread protest.

Anyway, last week, immediately after the SF leg, I got a request from National Public Radio (an affiliate of BBC radio) for an interview. It’s interesting because the interviewer was in English and based in Shanghai, I did sense some bias in her questions. It was like she wanted me to say, how disappointed and distressed I was, that BJ was censoring the news in BJ, that I was afraid for my safety to carry the torch.

WOMEN’S DIVISION
My Bets:

Brazil (1) vs Russia (5) (Gold Medal Match)

China (6) vs Italy (2) (Bronze Medal Match)

Of course I’m considering Team Cuba (3) and USA (4) as darkhorses for the womens division.

The complete list of Teams who will join the 2008 Beijing Olympics Women’s Indoor Volleyball Competition:

• Brazil (1) – 2nd Place in 2007 World Cup
• Italy (2) - Champion in 2007 World Cup
• Cuba (3) – North and Central American Confederation Champion
• USA (4) – 3rd Place in 2007 World Cup
• Russia (5) – European Confederation Champion
• China (6) – Host Country
• Algeria (21) – African Confederation Champion
• Venezuela (29) – South American Confederation Champion
• TBD – Asian Confederation Champion (to be contested by Japan (8), Korea (11), Kazakhstan (16) and Thailand (18) on May 17-25, 2008)
• TBD – 1st Place in World Qualifying Tournament (to be contested by Serbia (7), Japan (8), Poland (9), Korea (11), Dominican Republic (14), Kazakhstan (16), Thailand (18) and Puerto Rico (19) on May 17-25, 2008
• TBD – 2nd Place in World Qualifying Tournament (to be contested by Serbia (7), Japan (8), Poland (9), Korea (11), Dominican Republic (14), Kazakhstan (16), Thailand (18) and Puerto Rico (19) on May 17-25, 2008
• TBD – 3rd Place in World Qualifying Tournament (to be contested by Serbia (7), Japan (8), Poland (9), Korea (11), Dominican Republic (14), Kazakhstan (16), Thailand (18) and Puerto Rico (19) on May 17-25, 2008

MEN’S DIVISION
For the Mens Division Brazil (1) must prepare (as in) to defend their title from powerhouse teams like Serbia (8), Italy (10) and Russia (2).

The complete list of Teams who will join the 2008 Beijing Olympics Men’s Indoor Volleyball Competition:

• Brazil (1) – Champion in 2007 World Cup
• Russia (2) – 2nd Place in 2007 World Cup
• USA (3) – North and Central American Confederation Champion
• Bulgaria (4) – 3rd Place in 2007 World Cup
• Serbia (8) – European Confederation Champion
• Egypt (14) – African Confederation Champion
• Venezuela (20) – South American Confederation Champion
• China (21) – Host Country
• TBD – Asian Confederation Champion (to be contested by Australia (11), Japan (12), Korea (16), Iran (26) and Thailand (28) on May 31-June 8, 2008)
• TBD – 1st Place in Düsseldorf, Germany World Qualifying Tournament (to be contested by Spain (6), Cuba (17), Germany (19) and Chinese Taipei (39) on May 23-25, 2008)
• TBD – 1st Place in Espinho, Portugal World Qualifying Tournament (to be contested by Poland (5), Puerto Rico (8), Indonesia (39) and Portugal (39) on May 30-June 1, 2008)
• TBD – 1st Place in Tokyo, Japan World Qualifying Tournament (to be contested by Argentina (6), Italy (10), Australia (11), Japan (12), Korea (16), Iran (26), Thailand (28) and Algeria (60)

A few weeks before the voting ended, Marco had a quick vacation here to promote his campaign. He appeared and got interviewed in shows and programs from networks like ABS-CBN, GMA, ANC, DZMM, Magic 89.9, Hit 99.5, and many more. I think it was the GMA interview wherein I heard him say (with feelings and a lot of determination), “I wanna carry the torch for the Filipinos!”.

As part of his campaign, he has set up his official “Vote for Marco Torres” website: Pinoy Torch Bearer. At one point, I was actually planning to set up a custom blog design for Marco for free!! to show my support but alas, someone else already made a site for him. You can check out his site to get the latest news about him. or leave Marco a “Mabuhay ang Pinoy” message. I got this from the site:

ONE MAN’S DREAM. ONE COUNTRY’S GLORY.
Go Pinoy. Go Marco.
To God be the Glory.

The official online voting page at ChinaDaily.com seemed to have been taken down already since the voting has ended. You can still view the voting pages of each of the candidates. You can no longer vote but can still leave comments; here’s Marco’s page. Now, I wonder where we can get a final list of those who made it to the Top 10. Having a total of 13,342 votes is huge so did Marco win? His site mentioned he earned the top 2 spot.

Hey Marco, what happened? Can you share to us who made it as part of the 8 expat torchbearers?

2. All netizens can vote for their favorite torchbearer candidate on the website. A selection committee will pick 100 candidates who will be chosen according to the number of votes they receive, as well as their experiences and qualifications.

3. The selection committee will determine the final eight Olympic torchbearers.

Do you want a Filipino to be one of only eight Expat Torchbearers in the Beijing Olympics? Here’s how, all you have to do is VOTE for Marcos Antonio Torres. He’s a nice guy who’s addicted to playing volleyball. The last time I played volleyball with him, he seems to be very passionate with the sport. He hates losing. Right now, he’s living in China. Here’s his profile:

I have lived in Beijing for over a year now and I’m loving it. I am a marketer by profession working for China’s number 1 design firm, M Moser Associates. Before this job, I was back hope managing brands like Ovaltine and Anchor Butter. I love sports – volleyball, badminton and tennis and I can’t live without them. I write and take photos for a magazine in China, the most presitgious bilingual magazine, Metrozine, where articles are written in English but also featured in Chinese, thereby having a wider readership. I have on several occasions done sports anchoring on TV. People call me the travel guru here, every weekend, I travel to new parts of Beijing (never enough time to see everything) and the Middle Kingdom. Other than that, I love furniture, paintings, musicals, movies. travelling, cocktails and cappucino. Love life in general.

So why vote for Marco? Here’s what he has to say:

I have been living in Beijing for over a year now. I moved here to be in the most turbulent yet exciting place once can be….Beijing is where it’s all happening. While many cities took decades and centuries to build (Rome was definitely not built in a day), modern Beijing is being created within a year. From a flat landscape of the most beautiful imperial temples and palaces, you see fantastic creative buildings rising. Beijing must have the record for most landmarks, the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and now you have the Bird’s Nest (Olympic Stadium), the water cube (Aquatic Stadium), the Giant Egg (Grand Opera House) and the Z (CCTV Tower). All iconic structures which symbolize Beijing. Such strong identifiable symbols that you know it cannot be mistaken for any other place when you see them.