SEAG HERO CASUGAY, UNANG PINOY NA GINAWARAN NG CIFP AWARD

MULING nagbigay ng karangalan sa ­bansa si 30th Southeast Asian Games gold medalist at surfing star, Roger Casugay, matapos siyang gawaran ng Pierre de Coubertin Act of Fair Play Award ng Comite International du Fair-Play (International Fair Play Committee), unang Pilipino na tumanggap ng prestihi­yosong gawad na ipinangalan sa ‘father of the international Olympic movement.’
Nagpahayag ng pagmamalaki si Philippine Sports Commission Chairman at 30th SEAG Chef de Mission Wil­liam Ramirez sa rekog­nisyon ng kabayanihan ni Casugay matapos ­niyang isakripisyo ang gintong medalya upang sagipin ang karibal na surfing competitor mula Indonesia noong nakaraang 30th SEA­Games Philippines 2019.
“We are very proud of Roger because he has truly exemplified the true meaning of being a Filipino and a sportsman,” sambit ni Ramirez. “The International Surfing Asso­ciation (ISA) through its Membership and Development Mana­ger Alex Reynolds, informed the United Phi­lippine Surfing Association Tuesday of Casugay’s achievement of one of the most prestigious awards in the field of sports”.
Ang 26-anyos na si Casugay, tubong San Fernando, La Union ay tumanggap ng pinakamataas na respeto mula sa SEAG visitors at local sports fans pati mga entusiyastiko matapos ay napanalunan din ang gold sa naturan ding n event nang desisyunan ng mga hurado na ikarera muli pagkatapos ng kani­lang deliberasyon.
“Above all, it is a more fulfilling achievement to be recognized for character than skills and achievements. It shows who we are as people and as a nation,” dagdag ng PSC Chief.
Sinegundahan naman ni UPSA President Dr. Jose Raul Canlas ang pahayag ni Ramirez.
“It is nice to recognize an athlete not only for his athletic skills but also for his humanity. Holding sur­fing during the Southeast Asian Games is a milestone event. It paved the way for the ISA to recognize the region and allowed Roger to be also re­cognized,” ani Canlas.
Ayon pa kay Ramirez, ang naturang gawad ay patunay na: beyond the overwhelming victory of the national team, copping the overall championship of the Games, the values it taught our youth and people form part of the Games’ legacies. ­Seven months after the Games, we are still feeling the pride that our national athletes achieved for the Filipino people. Truly, sports is an advocacy that keeps on giving,” ani pa Ramirez, na siya ring CDM sa ikalawang pagkaka­taon na nagkampeon ang Pilipinas sa naturang multi-sport event.
Narito ang nilalaman ng kalatas ng rekognisyon mula sa awards body para sa bayaning Pinoy. “The award, inaugurated in 1965 and whose past reci­pients are heroic and notable humanita­rian figures inclu­ding Sergey Bubka (athletics), László Papp (boxing), Miguel Indurain (cycling) among others (fairplayinternational.org), is set to be officially given to Casugay on October 27. He is ­expected to fly to ­Monaco to personally receive the award, He also has an option to receive the award virtually”.(Danny Simon)