Pinay Golfer Dottie Ardina Frustrated at Olympics for Poor Uniforms and Gear
DOTTIE ARDINA – The Pinay golfer has publicly expressed her frustration with the poor conditions of equipment and uniforms provided at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Competing alongside teammate Bianca Pagdanganan, Ardina took to social media to highlight their issues, including inadequate support and equipment.
In a video that has circulated online, Ardina is seen improvising by using tape to attach the Philippine logo to her shirt, due to the lack of official uniforms. She laments the situation, saying, “Dikit ulit natin ‘to. Double-sided tape. Ang saya-saya! Every day is another day. I-doble natin ‘yung tape, baka matuklap ‘to mamaya eh.” Her comments reveal the ongoing struggles of athletes forced to manage with subpar resources.
Ardina also expressed disappointment over the lack of uniforms, remarking, “Mahirap na. Sana all may uniform, kami lang ang wala. Kailangan pa naming bumili ng T-shirt. Jusko, ano ba namang klaseng Olympics ‘to?” This statement underscores the disparity in support between her team and other athletes.
The golfer directed her frustrations towards sports officials, questioning the whereabouts of their uniforms and criticizing the situation where they are left without proper gear. “Nakakahiya. Sobrang daming tao, kami lang ang walang uniform. Tuklap-tuklap pa ‘tong [patch na] ‘to,” she said.
In another video, Ardina demonstrated placing the Philippine logo patch on a different shirt and shared a photo of her golf clubs, which had duct tape covering brand labels to comply with the International Olympic Committee’s rules on advertising.
Ardina and Pagdanganan are among the last remaining Filipino athletes to have a chance to win medals. To date, Filipino athletes who have secured medals include gymnast Carlos Yulo with two golds and boxers Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio with one bronze each. The issues raised by Ardina highlight broader concerns about support and resources for athletes competing at the highest level.
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