Dottie Ardina speaks up on uniform, equipment issue in Paris 2024; calls for better state support
Filipino golfer Dottie Ardina recalled the events that led to the lack of proper uniforms and equipment at the 2024 Paris Olympics, calling for better state support for golfers moving forward.
In a lengthy Facebook post on Aug. 13, Ardina began by thanking those who supported Team Philippines despite failing to secure an Olympic medal.
"Kinapos man po at nagging mailap ang medalya pero kami po ay lumaban hanggang sa huli," she said. "[Napakalaking] karangalan po na [irepresenta] ang bandila ng Pilipinas."
She then mentioned a now-viral video posted by her mother where she aired her frustration over the lack of proper uniforms and poor condition of equipment at the Games. She said she didn't address it immediately as she was in the middle of the match and noted that it drew negative reactions toward the Philippine Women's Golf Team.
"Napagsabihan pa po ako na alisin ang video na may kasamang pagsisi pa galing sa akin na ang pagsasalita ko ay gumawa ng napakalaking issue," she said, adding her mother still didn't delete the video.
'Walang nagawang tama'
Ardina, noting she's speaking from experience and is just giving her opinion, said she didn't imagine the issue growing big and is hoping to clarify matters.
According to Ardina, the Olympics' final tournament list was released on June 25. The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) sent her uniform size forms on June 13. While she was playing at the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LGPA) in the United States, Ardina said she asked the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) on July 28 how or where to get uniforms and a golf bag. She was headed to Paris on Aug. 1.
"Ang sabi po sa akin, dala nila ang golf bag at ang uniforms 'will be sent straight to Paris eta July 31,'" she said, adding it gave her anxiety as the competition was going to start on Aug. 7. "Paano kung mali ang size or hindi maayos ang fitting?"
While in the US, Ardina decided to bring plain shirts just in case. "May dala din po ang teammate ko," she said, referring to Bianca Pagdanganan.
They arrived in Paris on the morning of Aug. 2, and Ardina said they still didn't have proper attire. They registered at the tournament desk on Aug. 4, and she said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) asked them to wear the uniforms. "Nagdahilan na lang po ako na hindi pa dumadating," she said.
The uniforms arrived on the afternoon of Aug. 4 but they were just tracksuits, according to Ardina. "Nagkatotoo ang ikinakaba ko at walang dumating na competition shirts," she said. "May paparating silang pamalit, na malamang ang sinasabi nilang 'sets of competition gear to be produced in Paris' sa POC statement."
She noted that these are two collared black and white shirts that aren't really for golf but had to be worn during the practice round on Aug. 5 and 6 as she and Pagdanganan had to wear matching clothes. She said someone bought shirts for them and placed the Philippine flag, if not the country's initials.
Their new uniforms arrived on Aug. 5, she said, but these are assorted brands and sizes. Ardina and Pagdanganan also didn't have matching uniforms. She also noted that the other shirts were also too small for them.
"Ang mas pangit pa, MALI ang stamp ng logo na PHI dahil nasa illalim ng collar at natatakpan ito," she said. "Walang nagawang tama."
To make things worse, Ardina said there were no golf balls, head covers, gloves, and golf umbrellas. They only received local bags and golf shoes. "Mabuti po at may dala kaming sarili. 'Di ko maisip kung bakit walang budget para sa mga gear at equipment na iyon."
"Talagang KULANG-KULANG. Bakit parang ako pa ang binaliktad?" she added.
That's what prompted her team to use the plain shirts they had brought and attach a flag patch, which they had to transfer to different shirts every day. "Ang dala [niya] ay white, navy blue, at army green. Akin naman po ay black, navy blue, and grey. Pareho kaming merong white and navy blue," Ardina said of Pagdanganan's shirts.
Because they didn't have matching shirts completely, Ardina said she went to the mall on the night of Aug. 6 to buy an umbrella and two shirts for her and Pagdanganan, in compliance with the IOC rules.
She questioned the POC for saying in its statement that there were provided uniforms and that the athletes just decided not to wear them. She also questioned the NGAP saying there were uniforms on the way, but she decided to buy herself. "Parang ako pa ngayon ang dahilan kung bakit kami hindi [naka-uniforms] ng maayos?"
Ardina maintained that no uniforms arrived, and what they bought in Paris didn't fit her and Pagdanganan even as the PHI logo was under the collar.
After the video her mother posted went viral, Ardina said they were asked to wear a uniform with the Philippine flag sewn on it but like what was bought, only one fit them because the size was still the same and had different material, color, and design.
"Sinuot po ng teammate ko 'yung huling bigay at sinuot ko na lang po 'yung binili ko," she said. "Kahit ano pong mangyari, [magkaiba] talaga kami ng susuotin sa last day."
"Hindi ko [po] piniling magsuot ng ibang uniforms o shirts. WALA po talaga akong choice kung hindi magsuot ng iba," Ardina said in response to the POC and NGAP.
'Dapat akong magsalita'
She addressed how she mentioned "Nakakahiya" in the viral video, as many people were around. Other athletes were also telling her things like, “Your flag is peeling off," “You did not get uniforms?," “That's a lot of tapes," and "They did not provide you head covers?”
"Hindi ko na po alam ang isasagot ko," Ardina said, adding that the competition was on livestream worldwide. "Nakakalungkot dahil nakita pa ang flag natutuklap."
As for their club head covers, Ardina said the IOC reminded them to not use those with company golf brands, prompting them to cover them with duct tape.
All of their fellow athletes, meanwhile, had their respective national flags as design. "Ang ganda sana ng covers namin kung Philippine flag ang design," she said.
When Philippine golf officials were asked why the covers weren't made or why the IOC disapproved the first design of the uniforms with the correct logos, Ardina said they were told it was difficult to comply with the IOC rules. This is what supposedly caused the error, on top of them not knowing the rules for head covers.
"Tanggap ko na lang po iyon," she said. "Pero kami lang po ang [nag-iisang] team sa buong Olympics na walang uniforms. Tayo lang ang nahirapan sa rules."
Ardina said she also felt the need to speak up because only the official statements from the POC and NGAP made the headlines in Paris.
Though there were media members with them in the competition, Ardina noted the negative things happening to them weren't being reported. "Madaming local na media ang nag reach out sa akin pero wala akong kinausap out of respect sa kasama naming media," she said, "at hinihintay ko na sila ang magbalita ng katotohanan. Wala naman pong nanggaling sa kanila kaya nagsalita na po ako."
Ardina noted she made the viral video out of frustration. She said it's difficult to join the Olympics, and she's unsure whether she can join the next one because it only happens every four years and qualifications are not easy.
"Puwede naman po ako manahimik pero naisip ko na din, dapat akong magsalita," she said. "[K]ung hindi na para sa akin, hindi ko masabi kung huling Olympics ko na ito, pero para na lang sa mga susunod pa sa amin. Para mas maayos ang kanilang Olympic experience."
Ardina calls for better support moving forward
Ardina is hoping for the improvement of things moving forward.
"Sana lang ay hindi na po maulit ang mga nangyari," she said. "Sana magbago ang patakbo. Sana mas magaling sila sa susunod. Sana magkaroon ng maayos na COMMUNICATION sa pagitan ng mga officials na [naka-assign] at sa mga atleta na maglalaro sa susunod na Olympics. Sana wala ng Philippine Team at atletang Pilipino ang magmukhang busabos at kawawa."
She also noted that the POC and NGAP didn't fund her to qualify for the Olympics.
"Sarili ko at ng sponsors ko ang gastos at akin ang hirap at pagod para maghanda at [mag-qualify]," she said. "Dumating na lang po kaming Olympians na at handang lumaban para sa bayan."
She lamented that it was just her and Pagdanganan for golf and 22 Filipino delegates overall, yet they still weren't given enough attention. "Gumawa na kami ng paraan para magmukha kaming karespe-respeto dito, at sa huli ako pa ang parang sinisisi," she said.
Ardina pointed out that she had no bad intentions with her video or post. "Ang gusto ko lang naman po ay maayos at [magmukhang] presentable kami bilang atleta ng bayan at para din mataas ang tingin ng ibang bansa sa Pilipinas," she said, adding that being part of the Olympics is a huge honor to showcase Filipino talent in golf.
"Ako po ay nagdarasal at umaasa na sana ay lubusan naming nagampanan ito," Ardina said.
The golfer ended her statement by declaring herself as an "Atletang Pilipino" and an "Olympian." She thanked everybody for their support.
Ardina placed 13th in the competition, while Pagdanganan ended up in 4th place.
PhilSTAR L!fe reached out to the POC and NGAP for comment but has yet to receive a reply.