Magiging katatawanan sa buong mundo ang Pilipinas sa sandaling maglagay ng isang beach volley court sa gitna ng isang track and field oval.

Ito ang buod ng sulat ni Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) President Philip Ella Juico na ipinadala nito sa Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) na nagpaplano na magtayo ng isang beach volley sandcourt sa mismong gitna ng PhilSports Track and Football Field na kilala dati bilang Ultra sa lungsod ng Pasig.

“We are respectfully conveying to your good office the PATAFA’s explicit and unequivocal opposition to the PSC’s planned construction of a beach volleyball court right in the middle of the Philsports athletics field,” sabi sa sulat ni Juico.

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Ipinaliwanag ni Juico na hindi nakonsulta ang PATAFA at maging ang Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas Incorporated hinggil sa paglalagay ng sand court na maaari sanang agad natalakay.

“We acknowledge that the track and field oval, although belonging to the people, the taxpayers and stakeholders like PATAFA and other enthusiasts and practitioners of athletics, is the property of the government and is under the stewardship and administration of the PSC. Consultation would have been appropriate,” sabi ni Juico.

“It undermines the integrity and respect for the sports of athletics. Having another structure that obviously does not conform with the standard setup of a track and field oval, as defined by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), is not just bizarre but also strongly implies that there is lack of regard for the value and importance of athletics within the context of Philippine sports,” ayon pa kay Juico na dati ring chairman ng government sports body.

Idinagdag ni Juico na makaka-istorbo at napakadelikado ang pagtatayo ng sandcourt .“The construction, even if it is yet to be completed, severely hampers the training of our throwers, and more importantly and in general, puts at risk, life and limb. The ongoing buildup of the construction is 58 meters from the Hammer circle and 50 meter from the javelin foul line.,”

Inihayag din ng track and field chief na mas nararapat na isagawa na lamang ang nasabing sandcourt sa paradahan sa gilid ng Ninoy Aquino Stadium sa mismong harapan ng Harrison Plaza.

Lubhang maaapektuhan din ang isinasagawang pagpapalakas ng PATAFA sa field events dahil sa konstruksiyon ng beach volley court sa track oval.

“Inalis na nila kami sa Rizal Memorial tapos aalisan pa rin nila kami ng training venue sa Philsport. Doon nagsasanay ang mga atleta natin sa javelin, discus, hammer throw, pole vault at iba pang field events,” sabi nito.

Maliban sa hammer throw, shotput at javelin, isinasagawa rin sa gitna ng track oval ang high jump, long jump at triple jump. (ANGIE OREDO)