Team DailyPedia
As the Philippines approaches its most successful Olympics yet, with two gold and two bronze medals, a new controversy has emerged from the Paris Games.
Golfer Dottie Ardina has publicly criticized the handling of her team’s uniforms, drawing attention to the issue through a viral video.
In the video, Ardina is seen struggling to attach a national flag patch to a shirt she and teammate Bianca Pagdanganan had to purchase themselves for the third round of the golf competition at Le Golf National. Ardina’s frustration is evident as she vents about the lack of proper uniforms.
“Sana all with uniforms,” Ardina said in the video. “Kami lang ang wala. Kailangan bumili pa ng t-shirts. Dyos ko, ano bang klaseng Olympics ito?”
Ardina also questioned the whereabouts of the uniforms promised by the delegation, stating, “Shout out naman dyan, sa mga nagbigay ng uniforms natin, saan na napunta? Dalawa na lang kami dito, 22 lang ang atleta, kulang-kulang pa.”
2 atleta natin sa Paris olympics pinay golfers na sina Bianca Pagdanganan at Dottie Ardina.. nagmukhang kaawa-awa dahil sila lang ang walang maayos na uniform.. nasaan ang pondo sa atleta? panoorin si Dottie sa kanyang karanasan⛳️️ pic.twitter.com/kyhd8YYAIZ
— Ely Saludar (@media_ely) August 9, 2024
Despite these issues, Ardina performed admirably, shooting a three-under-par 69, her best round of the tournament. She moved up to solo 23rd place with a total of one-over-par, 10 strokes behind leaders Lydia Ko and Morgane Metraux.
Pagdanganan, on the other hand, had a challenging day, scoring a one-over-par 73, which dropped her from tied sixth to a tie for 13th place with a total of two-under-par.
The uniform issues were attributed to delays in customs. The uniforms, which were shipped to Paris, encountered problems, leading Ardina and Pagdanganan to use store-bought shirts from an adidas store, the official outfitter for the Philippine delegation.
Bones Floro, Secretary-General of the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) and head of the golf delegation, apologized for the situation. He explained that the uniforms were delayed at customs and urged fans to focus on the athletes’ performances rather than the uniform issue.
Ayun, nagawan naman pala ng paraan eh! PWEDE NA YAN! Wag nga kayong maaarte mga atleta! Kung ano ang andyan, tanggapin niyo. Yan lang ang kaya ng budget eh. Kung ayaw nyo, next time, wag na kayo mag-represent sa Pinas. pic.twitter.com/DjjqNqvatN
— DAVAOMIGRANT (@nabunturanguy) August 10, 2024
The incident has sparked criticism online, with fans pointing out the inadequate attire and questioning why proper uniforms were not provided sooner, given the team’s extended stay in Paris. Photos of Ardina and Pagdanganan with peeling Philippine flags on their shirts have circulated, adding to the controversy surrounding the delegation’s preparation.
