INQUIRER Sports

BEIJING—As Team Philippines settled down and tried out some of the training facilities scattered in the Chinese capital, the delegation got all pumped up with a scheduled meeting Thursday with the country’s biggest supporter.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is due here Thursday afternoon and has a scheduled dinner with the RP delegation. The Chief Executive, whose P4.5-million pledge hiked the bounty for a gold medal to P15 million, will arrive with a lean but mean group that includes husband Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo and world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

President Arroyo and her entourage are taking the 5:30 a.m. flight Thursday and will have their first stop over at Chengdu Shuangliu airport. The group will visit the Sichuan province at 2 p.m. before proceeding to the proposed dinner tendered for the RP delegation.

Also departing for Beijing on Thursday but on separate flights are Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair William Ramirez and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco.

The President is among the handful of world leaders attending the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.

On Aug. 9, President Arroyo will be meeting with the entire RP delegation over lunch, where she’s expected to encourage the Filipinos in their bid to end an 84-year Olympic gold medal drought.

“GMA (Ms Arroyo) invited the RP contingent for lunch on Saturday provided that they are available and would not hamper their activities, practices or events,” said press officer Joey Romasanta.

Lone boxing bet Harry Tañamor and the swimming quintet led by Miguel Molina had their first workouts at the Chinese capital, including the so-called “Olympic Green,” exactly 24 hours after arriving here.

As smog continues to shroud one of the world’s oldest cities, the RP bets remained focused and went about with their training two days before the Olympics formally kicks off at eight minutes past 8 p.m. Friday.

All 13 athletes attended their early morning practice, with archer Mark Javier and shooter Eric Ang, who arrived here as early as last week, returning to their respective training venues in the afternoon for another practice round.

Meanwhile, amateur boxing association president Manny Lopez ordered gold medal prospect Tañamor to stay away from doing unnecessary outdoor activities.

“So the instruction is to avoid staying outdoors due to heavy haze,” he said.

The 30-year-old Tañamor starts his bid Aug. 13. Should the luck of the draw favor the Filipino and he gets a first round bye, Tañamor’s next scheduled fight will be on the 16th.

The drawing of lots is set on the morning of Aug. 8.

Zou Shiming, the Chinese national who currently reigns as champion in the light flyweight class, and European titlist David Ayrapetyan of Russia are considered as the favorites for the gold in the 48kg division.