It is already a daunting task to go up against the best of the world in the 2024 Paris Olympics and yet Filipina golfers Dottie Ardina and Bianca Pagdanganan still had to deal with issues outside the golf course, seemingly stemming from the apparent lack of support of Philippine team officials.

In a video that is now viral on various social media platform, Ardina voiced out his frustrations over the lack of uniforms for her and Pagdanganan while she was seen taping the Philippine flag patch to her vest before the start of the third round of women’s individual stroke play on Friday, Aug. 9.

“Dikit ulit natin to. Double-sided tape (referring to the PH flag she is taping to her uniform). Ang saya saya. Everyday is another day,” said a sarcastic Ardina.

“Sana all may uniform, kami lang wala kailangan pa bumili ng t-shirt.Diyos ko ano ba namang klaseng Olympics to,” she added.

It turned out both Pagdanganan and Ardina have been competing with uniforms only bought at the local stores as their official uniforms failed to make it in time for the tournament after being stuck at the Paris customs.

Fans, of course, were quick to air their support for Ardina with some even posting screengrabs of the broadcast showing the flag patch peeling off Pagdanganan’s uniform.

“Shout out naman dyan, sa mga walang nagbigay, asan na ba yung uniform namin san na napunta da-dalawa na lang kami dito. Twenty-two na lang na atleta kulang kulang pa,” Ardina said.

“Di ba nakakahiya sobrang daming tao kami lang ang walang uniform tuklap tuklap pa itong ano na ito,” she added.

Aside from the uniforms, Ardina also showed a photo of her golf clubs wrapped in duct tapes to cover sponsor logos as sponsorship displays were prohibited in the Olympics.

Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Dicky Bachman politely declined to comment on the issue, saying their main role is to provide financial support to the athletes, so as not to be accused of government intervention.

“Please, better get the reaction from the NSA,” said Bachmann. 

The Philippine Olympic Committee, meanwhile, said the French customs held the competition gears after the International Olympic Committee denied the initial set of apparels which bears the logo of the sponsor.

"We are all saddened with the issue about the attire but we have supported our athletes unequivocally. Their talents are not shown by their attire but by their passion, dedication and pure love for the sport," the POC wrote in a statement.

(With reports from Rey Lachica from Paris)