By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Filipino athletes bound for the 2024 Paris Olympics got a needed boost in their bids to conquer the odds after the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) announced their plan to give house and lot to gold medal winners in the Games.
POC President Bambol Tolentino said they have been hunting for the right places to give house and lot to future Paris Olympics winners similar to what they did three years ago after the Tokyo Games.
“Kung nagawa ko noon, bakit hindi ko magagawa ngayon,” said Tolentino during a press briefing on Thursday, April 18, in Mandaluyong.
Tolentino also added they are planning to give away additional cash incentives to medalists, but details have yet to be finalized.
“Definitely meron yan,” he said.
It can be recalled that the POC awarded Hidilyn Diaz, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial house and lots in Tagaytay following their one-gold, two-silver, one-bronze showing at the Tokyo Games.
The four athletes have also received cash incentives from the POC.
So far, the country has nine qualifiers in Paris composed of pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan, boxers Nesthy Petecio, Eumir Marcial and Aira Villegas, and weightlifters John Febuar Ceniza, Elreen Ando and Vanessa Sarno.
POC expects more Filipinos to earn Paris berths with several qualification tournaments happening in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Cignal is also planning a 13-part mini-series documenting the Filipinos athletes’ campaign to Paris, from their one-month build-up at the French city of Metz leading to their participation in the world’s biggest sporting event.
The POC has already secured an agreement with La Moselle President Patrick Weiten for the use of sports facilities in the city of Metz starting in June, as well as the accommodation and food for the Filipino qualifiers.
Cignal is also at the tailend of its discussion to get the broadcast rights for the Games, hoping to bring the Filipino athletes’ exploits to digital, free-to-air and pay TV.
