FILIPINO athletes vying in the Paris Olympics got a big shot in the arm in the form of a juicy cash incentive to be handed out even before the games begin.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard Bachmann delivered the wonderful news during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum (PSA) at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
“Twenty-three million is only from Senator Risa Hontiveros, then Senator Bong Go has a figure already. May additional siya. There’s also additional from other senators direct to the athletes already na pinasa lang sa PSC and I just signed a cheque siguro mga P30 plus millions,” said Bachmann.
The PSC head said during the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Smart/PLDT, MILO, and the 24/7 sports app in the country ArenaPlus that the amount will be distributed before the Paris Games set July 26 to Aug. 9.
So far, 15 Filipino athletes have qualified, with Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino expecting around four more to join the campaign to deliver the medals for the Philippines.
In the 2021 Tokyo Games, the Philippines brought home a gold medal, its first in the Olympics, courtesy of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, and two silvers and a bronze through boxers Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Marcial.
“We have until June 30 to see sino pa ang mag-qualify,” added Bahmann.
The PSC has alloted P52 million for the Paris Olympics, including the preparations, training and actual participation. Also part of the expenditures are those for airfare, luggage and parade uniforms.
“We’ve already spent P43 million so I have P8 to P9 million left. Kung kulang man I will look,” said Bachmann.
Those who have booked tickets to the Paris Games are pole-vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnasts Carlos Yulo, boxers Aira Villegas, Nesthy Petecio, Hergie Bacyadan, Marcial and Paalam, gymnasts Aleah Finnegan, Levi Ruivivar and Emma Malabuyo, rower Joanie Delgaco, weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, John Ceniza, and Elreen Ando, and fencer Sam Catantan.
During the forum, Bachmann also bared the PSC plans for the rest of the year, including the ground-breaking for a seven-storey athletes’ dormitory to be put up inside the RMSC.
The project should begin with the demolition of the old boxing and pencak silat buildings in July and then the ground-breaking in August, and may take at least two years to finish.
