MANILA, Philippines — It's my fault now?
Golfer Dottie Ardina found herself asking that question as she felt statements made by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) in response to her viral video lamenting the alleged non-issuance of proper uniforms for her and teammate Bianca Pagdanganan at the Paris Olympics made her somehow the culprit.
Ardina finished at joint 13th while Pagdanganan posted the highest Philippine Olympic golf finish at joint fourth.
"Bakit parang ako pa ang binaliktad (why does it seem like it was my fault?)," said Ardina in a lengthy Facebook post written in Filipino Tuesday evening, August 13.
Ardina, 30, asked this question after going into detail how she and Pagdanganan were left to improvise their uniforms after a series of events.
First, Ardina shared that NGAP said that their golf bags and uniforms will be sent to Paris with an estimated time of arrival of July 31, a week before the women's golf competition started.
Ardina said that she and her team arrived in Paris on August 2 but the uniforms weren't around yet and on August 4 they got reprimanded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for not having their proper uniforms.
Later that day, Ardina said the uniforms arrived, only, it was tracksuits.
"On the evening of August 5, our new uniforms arrived but they were assorted brands and sizes and those don't look the same for me and my teammate. There were other shirts but it's too small for each of us. The worst part was that the stamp logo of PHI was positioned incorrectly because it was underneath and getting covered by the collar," said Ardina.
"Nothing right was made. And aside from non-issuance of uniforms, golf balls, head covers, gloves, and golf umbrellas weren't also provided. Only bags (locally) made and golf shoes were the only things provided to us. Fortunately, we brought our own equipment. I can't find the reason why there's no budget for those gear and equipment. Everything was lacking."
With these, Ardina and Pagdanganan were left to make their DIY uniforms, having been forced to settle on taping a Philippine flag patch onto their plain shirts each day.
Contrary to POC and NGAP's statement, Ardina said she didn't decide to wear another attire, she just had no choice but to do so since there weren't proper uniforms sent to them in the first place. On the final day of competitions, Ardina said that uniforms with flags sewn into it were finally sent but only that of Pagdanganan fits properly.
"It was also included in the POC statement that uniforms have already been provided but the athletes decided not to wear it. On the other hand, NGAP's statement said that there were uniforms set to arrive but I decided to buy my own. So now it's my fault that we don't have proper uniforms?
"Let me repeat that no [proper] uniforms were around and those that were purchased in Paris did not fit both of us and the PHI logo is underneath the collar. After my video went viral on social media, we were given uniforms with [Philippine] flag [logo] sewn into it but just like the first purchase, only one [Pagdanganan's] of it fits. My teammate wore hers and I wore what I bought. I didn't choose to wear different uniforms or shirts, it's just that I had no choice but to do so because there weren't proper uniforms around in the first place."
At the end of the day, Ardina said that all that she wanted was for them to look presentable as Filipino athletes on the Olympic stage. She said it's a huge honor to have represented the Philippines in the grandest stage of sports especially in golf.
"I don't have ill intentions. With the video I made, I know that I've gotten a lot of support and bashers saying that 'the game isn't about uniforms!' or 'just play and stop complaining'. All I wanted was for us to look good and presentable as athletes of the nation and for other countries to hold us in high regard too," said Ardina.
"For me, competing in the Olympics was a huge honor and a chance to show the Pinoy's competence in representing the Philippines in the world stage of golf. I pray and hope that we did just that. This is Dottie Ardina, a Filipino athlete and Olympian, thanking you guys for all the support, prayers, privilege, and honor to fight for all the Filipinos in our beloved Philippines. That would be all. Thank you so much."
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