Fair Play: My World Cup 2010 accreditation

I GOT a nice surprise from the e-mail recently.

It was from the South African embassy, reminding us that the accreditation window for media men who want to cover the 2010 World Cup is about to close.

I’d probably file mine before the window closes.


It’d be nice to tell Michael Liam one day, that back in the time when newspapers were on paper, his dear ol’ pop got accredited for the World Cup 2010.

But getting accredited for World Cup coverage, doesn’t mean I’d be covering it.

In an ideal world, it should be and convicted thieves shouldn’t run for president.

But it’s not. A community paper’s sports editor has as much chance of covering the World Cup than of my favorite pare getting honest and admitting that, “I’m not really for the masa, Come on, I spend more on a single drink than what you earn in a month…Hello?”

So I’m stuck watching the games on TV.

And covering the World Cup, like the Olympics, will be just that, a dream.

One of many.

Though covering a Manny Pacquiao fight in Las Vegas is sure to be a blast, it’s not really one of the things I aim for.

Given the chance, I’d rather be a spectator than a writer in a Pacquiao fight since boxing is best viewed when you’re intoxicated.

I guess when you hit a certain milestone, you aim for what you can achieve, not one you can’t.

So, I’m checking the World Cup coverage off my list, so too is seeing the Philippines win the first Olympic gold medal, ditto with seeing some sanity in the PFF.

What’s left, is competing in—not covering—one of Asia’s best marathons (and of course, my one-hour tennis game with Maria Sharapova).

And I’m optimistic I don’t have to travel to do that—save for the tennis match.

The Cebu Marathon is not a one-time thing. Give it a few more years, and more corporate backing, it has the potential to be one of Asia’s best.

And while it’s growing, I’d do my training.

I’m optimistic the Cebu marathon will be big is because Cebu is already a tourist destination; organizers need not tell people where Cebu is to entice them to come over. All they have to do is inform them of the event.

Sports tourism was the buzz word in Cebu a few months back, but so far, it’s been all talk.

It’s funny, every town and city—not just in Cebu—thinks holding a tournament is sports tourism.

But it’s not.

The biggest draw in sports tourism for Southeast Asia, is the SEA Games.

Since that is out of the picture, the next best thing—or even better—is the Cebu City marathon.

Established marathons in Asia, like Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore draw so many runners they had to put up a quota; 25,000 for Tokyo and 8,000 for Hong Kong. And that’s just for the full marathoners.

The Tokyo marathon only started in 2005 but with the help of the travel agencies—which put up several tour packages for runners from Europe, the US and even South America—it got big.

There’s no reason travel agencies here can’t do that for the Cebu Marathon.

It’s a given, marathon runners got money to burn. It’s a matter of letting them spend it here, instead of elsewhere.

And with a lot of tourist spots just a spit away from the City, the marathon might just give Cebu the edge over other travel destinations.

For sure, the 1-10-10 event won’t be trouble-free.
Organizers are still taking baby steps.

But with a lot of help, it will grow.

And while they do that, I’m hitting the road to perfect my pace.

And of course, the tennis courts too, to practice my swing. I have to be prepared, just in case, you know.