It is both good and inspiring to know that, despite the fearsome threat of the COVID pandemic, sports officials as well as players all over the world are still upbeat about holding the Olympic Games this year. Nothing can inspire both young and old than the sight of athletes pitting their skills against each other and observing the ideals of sportsmanship as well. I am sure teams from all the participating countries are now hard at work inpractising and honing their skills for the event.
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I bet all the athletes have already undergone vaccination against COVID, and will no longer be at risk when the time comes. For that matter, I also hope that our government will speed up the acquisition of the most effective vaccines and supply all our local governments with it. Let us not allow that wicked virus from China decimate, not only our athletes, but our population as well. And not only that, let us observe all the “protocols” – nobody uses “rules” anymore – to avoid contracting this disease that China has spawned.
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Meanwhile, there are some good signs, or “signals” coming out that seem to assure us that COVID could already be on the way out (cross your fingers!). Baguio, for instance is already open to tourists, although I do not know what the “protocols” are for being admitted there. As far as I, and a lot of my family and friends are concerned, the stay home protocol is still the most effective way of avoiding infection, as well as becoming a “spreader” of this virus that we had never known before.
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By the way, back to the Olympics that will be hosted by Tokyo this time, reports say that it will take place, COVID or no COVID. Well, should we take that to mean that all their athletes have already been vaccinated and can no longer be infected even if those from other countries may have neglected to take that precaution? They better make sure of that, or we may even be suspected of bringing the virus to their country. And this is for all participating teams as well.
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As for the Olympic Games, one can just imagine the apprehensions of the Tokyo officials in charge of it with several countries probably thinking twice or thrice and more about sending their athletes there. I know officials are not hesitating, but what about the parents and the schools of the players? Are they enthusiastic, even willing to send their children there while the pandemic is still raging? I may be over-enthusiastic in my own expectations, but I have a feeling that the COVID may be driven away by the time the Olympics start. Let us join in prayers for that to happen.
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But I also heard that none of the scheduled games in the Olympics have been cancelled. That means the participating countries and teams are still upbeat about competing. I feel sure, too, that they have all undergone vaccinations against the disease, but not with the ones from China that have been described as “fake”. Are the Philippine teams now readying for the competition? Let’s wish them luck, they represent our country, and as I recall, they did not do so badly in the last one.
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“America is back!” That is what its new president Joe Biden ws quoted as saying on TV. Why, where had it been? Surely not in Florida with Donald Trump? Oh, and why are they still working on the impeachment of Trump, hadn’t he been trounced at the polls already, with Biden now signing order after order at his White House desk? Ah, these Americans really love to use figures of speech, and am I glad that my English teachers in high school were very insistent on our learning about such nuances in spoken English. But maybe Biden meant that Trump did not take America with him to Florida?
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The vaccines are coming! This is the latest news for Filipinos, that was expected to exhilarate them. But no! Many are not willing, are suspicious, or fearful that it might expose them the virus instead. I guess that is to be expected, but when they see that none of those vaccinated have been infected, they may probably line up for it. The question is, will there be enough of the vaccine expected for the entire citizenry? The number cited does not seem equal to the population count. The vaccines are coming, but will there be enough? Let’s wait and see.*
