Adulation refuses to die and cash bonanza keeps coming for Olympians

After the Philippines’ unprecedented Olympic participation in Tokyo 2020, being in that cast of heroes certainly pays well.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) approved an additional cash bonus of $5,000 (roughly P250,000) each for all 19 Filipino Olympians and their respective coaches, following the country’s unrivaled success in 97 years of participation in the Summer Games.

PSC commissioner Ramon Fernandez said Philippine record breakers, such as weightlifter Elreen Ando, swimmer Luke Gebbie and gymnast Carlos Yulo would receive another $5,000 each on top of the extra financial incentive authorized by the PSC board.

Gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz of weightlifting set the Olympic records in the clean and jerk and total of the women’s 55 kilogram, earning for herself another P5 million for the unparalleled deed.

“We are very proud of our athletes in the Olympics and they all deserve to be recognized for the country’s successful campaign in Tokyo,’’ said Fernandez.

Coaches happy, too

This is on top of the P500,000 each the nonmedalists stand to receive from the Philippine Olympic Committee and the MVP Sports Foundation.

There are about 40 coaches from 11 sports who stand to benefit from the sports agency’s generosity.

The PSC’s supplementary perks for the Olympic team came a day after PSC chair William Ramirez announced that all 19 Olympians would be heavily backed by the government for them to qualify again to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Ramirez likewise divulged that all athletes who competed in Olympic qualifying tournaments but failed to make it would be financially supported as well.

The PSC chief also brought up the plan of creating a pool of 15-year-old athletes from individual Olympic sports who will try their luck in the Olympic qualifiers on the way to Paris three years from now.

“We will secure athletes as young as 15 years old and support all of their needs for them to make it to Paris,’’ said Ramirez.

Best Games yet for PH

Besides Diaz, boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam brought home silver medals while middleweight Eumir Marcial wound up with a bronze, giving the Philippines its best performance in the Olympics since the 1932 Los Angeles Games where the nation claimed three bronze medals.

Pole vaulter EJ Obiena, golfers Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan and Juvic Pagunsan, skateboarder Margielyn Didal, rower Cris Nievarez, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, shooter Jayson Valdez, swimmer Remedy Rule, taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa, sprinter Kristina Knott and boxer Irish Magno complete the cast of 19 Olympians in Tokyo.