FILE – POC president Bambol Tolentino. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) was honored by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) for winning its first Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games.
The ANOC bestowed the Breakthrough NOC Award to the POC three months after weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz delivered the Philippines’ maiden gold in Tokyo.
“The POC is honored to receive this award from the ANOC. It’s been almost a century or after 22 Olympics that we finally won our first Olympic gold medal,” said POC chief Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who accepted the award virtually during the ceremony held in Heraklion, Greece on Sunday.
“This award is not only for the POC, but for the entire country and the 15 other Filipino athletes who gallantly competed in the Tokyo Olympics,” Tolentino said.
Three other Filipinos—all boxers—made the podium in Tokyo with Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam clinching the silver and Eumir Marcial bagging the bronze as the Philippines celebrated its best Olympic performance ever.
The ANOC Awards have been held annually since 2014. It was established to recognize and honor the achievements of the NOCs and their athletes as well as distinguished members of the Olympic Family.
Also receiving the award for winning their first Olympic gold medals were Bermuda, Qatar, Burkina Faso, San Marino and Turkmenistan.