POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
TAGAYTAY CITY—Not all Filipino athletes anointed by the Philippine Olympic Committee can have a free ride to the 19th Asian Games.
POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino announced on Monday that a fraction of those 426 athletes from 40 sports must find ways to fund themselves.
“We haven’t reduced the number of athletes and part of that belongs to Group B, which will be self-funded,” said Tolentino after the Hangzhou Asian Games Fun Run organized by the Olympic Council of Asia and the POC to promote the Asiad.
The local Olympic body has set a criteria for sending Southeast Asian Games gold and silver medalists to the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on September 23-October 8. The world and Asian rankings of athletes are likewise being considered.
“They didn’t meet our criteria. The PSC (Philippine Sports Commission), however, will provide them with uniforms,” said Tolentino.
“Some sports couldn’t reach the Olympics, so the Asian Games is their Olympics,” added the Tagaytay City mayor.
He pointed out the list to the Asian Games included athletes who remain uncertain of suiting up for the national team such as swimmer Kayla Sanchez and gymnast Carlos Yulo and even those who haven’t confirmed their participation yet like weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz.
“That’s the reason why the list became big. We included all the athletes who we think are qualified. It’s easier to remove them once we finalize the lineup than to lobby that we want to add more,” said Tolentino.
SYMBOLIC RUN
Tagaytay City’s invitingly cool weather provided the perfect condition for the POC’s successful hosting of the fun run with OCA officials Wissam Trkmani (projects and operations manager) and Jeans Zhou Jian (director of media and broadcast) in attendance.
“We are proud that the POC, Tagaytay City and the country have become part of this symbolic fun run that not only helps promote the Asian Games but also reiterates the Philippines’ very important and historic role in why these very Games were organized more than a century ago,” said Tolentino.
The Philippines is acknowledged as the birthplace of the Asian Games when the first Far Eastern Olympic Games were staged in January and February 1913 in the very same Malate area where the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex stands.
“Everything’s perfect, Tagaytay City is perfect for this fun run,” Tolentino said moments before he was joined by Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (Hagoc) Human Resources director Chen Qiufang in flagging off the runners in waves for the 6K, 3K and 1K categories.
Joining them during the fun run at the Tagaytay City BMX and Skate Park here were POC deputy secretary general Bones Floro of golf and Karen Caballero of sepak takraw.
Nearly 500 runners participated including Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial (boxing), Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Agatha Wong (wushu), Samuel Morrison (taekwondo), Jason Balabal (wrestling), Mark Julius Rodelas and Precious Satarain (obstacle racing), two-time Olympian Jasmine Alkhaldi (swimming) and Athletes Commission chairman Nikko Huelgas (triathlon).