HISTORICAL moments are right before us, and we are witnessing them as they unfold one by one.
The county’s success in the recent Paris Olympics showed grit, determination, resilience and sheer perseverance of Team Philippines as they went to the global stage of sports and showed the world what we got. Our Olympic haul is not one to be missed as well: Double Gold for Carlos Yulo as he reigns supreme in the gymnastics floor exercise and vault events; and in the Women’s Boxing Division, we got bronze for Aira Villegas in the 50 kilogram (kg) division and another bronze for Nesthy Petecio in the 57 kg division.
Of course, we will also watch out for EJ Obiena’s go-for-gold in the LA 2028 Olympics and similarly to the rest of our Filipino Olympian athletes who have now gotten the attention of the country.
It is indeed remarkable on how given challenges that continue to persist — be it in funding, facilities that our athletes made do with what we have, continued to focus on what needs to be done and brought home the bacon along the way. The journey in itself speaks volumes, and for sure has left a lasting impact in the hearts and minds of Filipinos — young and old — on what lies ahead if you put your heart and soul into it.
And it is but a special time to look at how sports can now experience its rebirth — as more and more Filipino athletes take an active role in competitive sports, and how doing so helps influence our Filipino youth in the process.
In the age of mental wellness, sports is the greatest antidote to combat negative feelings; or perhaps simply put, having a more active lifestyle by incorporating increased physical activity, be it exercise or taking a new interest in a particular sport, can help in compensating for what would be a sedentary lifestyle if we are all stuck in front of our computers all day long. For sure, your physical body will thank you.
Businesses and organizations can capitalize on sports and look at the possible opportunities that will arise in the process:
1. Coaches. Gone are the days when we refer to a coach as the individual responsible to train you for that particular sport; this now covers areas such as nutrition, counseling, conditioning and many others — all of which are key elements in ensuring that the output produced during a competition is the best.
2. Activities. There will be an increased demand in activities incorporating sports, exercises or physical movements — more deliberate decisions when it comes to shared activities whether spent with family or friends.
3. Wellness and lifestyle-related services. From mindful eating to supplementation to strength and stamina building and many others — the market should look into these evolving preferences with the shared objectives of longevity and strength.
Sports is continuously evolving and given the success that the country had in the recent Paris Olympics, it is high time to look into the opportunities that surround this subject. Tourism is also another component at the macro level and more opportunities along the way will arise.
Once again, congratulations to our Filipino Olympians!
Kay Calpo Lugtu is the chief operating officer of Hungry Workhorse, a digital and culture transformation firm. Her advocacies include food innovation, nation-building and sustainability. The author may be reached at [email protected]
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