Romero makes vaccine push for national athletes

House Deputy Speaker Michael Romero is confident the Tokyo Olympics will push through this year and cited the importance of COVID-19 vaccine for Filipino athletes preparing for the quadrennial event.

“Vaccine is a must for the Tokyo Olympics so I’m espousing a House resolution prioritizing the Philippine athletes,” Romero said in a special appearance on Tuesday in Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum.

Romero, a team owner in the Philippine Basketball Association and member of the Philippine polo team, said even those gearing up for the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games in November must get the vaccine.

“This is a chance of a lifetime for our athletes and the country to win an Olympic gold. And what we can do is to mitigate [the risks] by giving them vaccines,” Romero told the weekly sports forum.

Romero said national athletes should be among those being prioritized for vaccination, including the medical front-liners, senior citizens, the police and military, and the less-privileged.

Also gracing the forum was NorthPort representative to the PBA board of governors Erick Arejola, who expressed the readiness of the Romero-owned team for the next season that unfolds in April.

“We are currently signing the players (contracts). They are doing individual training and we’re only waiting for the go signal for team practices to resume. Our players are observing the health protocols,” he said.

Romero is hopeful this year’s batch of Olympians will finally end a Philippines dry spell in the Games.

“It’s a chance of a lifetime for these athletes. I hope we win the gold after 100 years of trying. It’s long overdue,” said Romero, who mentioned weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, gymnast Carlos Yulo and boxer Eumir Felix Marcial as those with solid chances.