Agot Isidro | Image: Instagram/@agotisidro
Following Carlos Yulo’s historic double gold medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympics, actress-singer Agot Isidro suggested decreasing the financial sponsorship for basketball and putting it instead in gymnastics, boxing, and weightlifting, the sports that are currently performing well in the Olympics.
Isidro took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her thoughts about providing more financial support for other Philippine sports aside from basketball, prompting a divided discussion in the comment section.
“So pwede na ba natin bawasan ang sponsorship at funding ng basketball at idagdag na lang sa gymnastics, boxing, and weightlifting? (So can we reduce the sponsorship and funding on basketball and pour more funds into gymnastics, boxing, and weightlifting?) Agree or Disagree?” she wrote.
Some netizens asserted that there should not be a decrease in the funding of any sports but an equal budget for all kinds of PH sports, as they all provide a different kind of entertainment and achievement to the country.
“I think hindi ganyan dapat na bawasan or dagdagan. Why not ipantay ang lahat ng funds allocation, kahit anong sports pa yan? boxing, basketball, and gymnastics. AT SWIMMING. ATBPA. KUNG GUSTO NYO NG FAIR TREATMENT, DAPAT FAIR DIN ANG FUNDS?” stated one X user.
(I think that’s not how it should be reduced or increased. Why not equalize all fund allocation, no matter what sports it is—boxing, basketball, and gymnastics—and swimming? But if you want fair treatment, the fund must also be fair.)
Image: X/@agot_isidro
Other users claimed that they understand Isidro’s suggestion because gymnastics, boxing, and weightlifting haven’t been receiving sufficient financial support from the government and private sectors, despite Filipino athletes excelling in these sports in the international arena.
“I agree. Sa basketball, wala talaga tayong chance manalo sa Olympics. Better focus tayo sa may competitive edge tayo (I agree. In basketball, we really have no chance to win the Olympics. Let’s better focus on where we have a competitive edge),” said one netizen.
After the heated discussion in her first post, Isidro penned another statement, saying, “Daming palang triggered. Sahree naman. Nagtanong lang. Eto na lang. Can we agree to have a public gymnasium built for every municipality? Meron pa bang Palarong Pambansa?”
(Some people are easily triggered. Sorry. I just asked. I’m saying this instead: Can we agree to have a public gymnasium built for every municipality? Is Palarong Pambansa still being held?)
The Palarong Pambasa 2024 concluded on July 17 while other netizens reasoned that local governments usually provide only basketball courts, and there are gymnasiums in some areas, but they are usually not properly maintained with equipment.
Yulo made Philippine sports history after winning two gold medals in the gymnastics category of the 2024 edition of the Olympic Games in Paris, France.
During the 2020 Summer Olympics, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the gold medal for the Philippines, becoming the first Filipino to ever win an Olympic gold medal.