P50-million war chest for Olympic gold

Buoyed by the consecutive success of Filipino athletes in the international front, the Philippine Sports Commission is preparing a war chest of P50 million for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Thanks to the feats of gymnast Carlos Yulo and lady boxer Nesthy Petecio, these world champions have brought hope that the elusive Olympic gold medal in the Olympics can finally be won.

“We will be all-out in financially supporting our Olympic-bound athletes,” said PSC Chair Butch Ramirez on Monday during a press briefing at Rizal Memorial Sports Center.

Yulo and Petecio got P1 million each in bonuses for their feats.

Yulo triumphed in Stuttgart in the floor exercise final of the Artistic Gymnastics World championship, while Petecio won the featherweight gold medal of the Aiba Women’s World championship in Russia.

“We will provide them with everything that they need to win a medal in the Olympics. If they can’t win the gold in Tokyo, we will continue helping them to become better in Paris (2024) and Los Angeles (2028),” said Ramirez.

He noted that it took weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz three Olympic cycles before seizing the silver medal in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics.

“If not for the PSC, Caloy won’t be a world champion. Our family is really grateful for the support of the PSC,” said Angelica Yulo, Caloy’s mother.

Boxer Eumir Marcial likewise received a bonus from the government worth P500,000 for a silver medal in the recent Aiba World Boxing Championships in Ekatirinburg, Sverdlosk Oblast, Russia.