DESPITE the stormy weather due to typhoon Jolina, all four Tokyo Olympic Games medalists, led by weightlifter Hidylin Diaz, received their incentives from the Philippine Olympic Committee during its general assembly meeting held both online and in Tagaytay City yesterday.
“Heto na, hindi natin kailangang sabihing imposible, posible po. Masasabi natin na kaya nating manalo (sa Olympics),” Diaz, who bagged the country’s first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, said on behalf of the 19 athletes who saw action in the country’s most successful stint in the quadrennial sports showcase.
“First, gusto kong magpasalamat sa POC sa ilalim ng leadership ni POC President (Abraham) Tolentino kasi grateful po kami dahil first time ko nakasama ang (support team) ko sa Tokyo after four Olympics,” said Diaz, who showed up with Chinese coach Gao Kaiwen and fitness coach Julius Naranjo.
“Hindi namin ito magagawa kung wala ‘yong tulong ninyo. Kailangan natin ma-sustain ito.
Kailangan natin ng preparation, support ng NSA president, ng POC, ng government support, at siyempre ‘yong support system,” she said.
“Kayang-kaya nating manalo ulit ng gold medal sa Olympics pero kailangan natin ang lahat ng tulong ninyo,” stressed Diaz, who received her P3 million bonus from the POC.
Olympic boxing silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam got P2 million apiece while teammate and bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial took home P1 million. The other 15 Olympians were also given P500,000 by the MVP Sports Foundation.
The POC also awarded special certificates of appreciation to the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas and the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines for their contributions to the success of the Philippine Olympic campaign.
Also cited by the local Olympic body were the patrons and supporters of the national squad, led by the MVP Sports Foundation and San Miguel Corp., which were given the Sports Patron of Olympic Cycle Award.
