A gold in Paris means a home in Olympic Village

POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and Cignal sealed a partnership on Thursday for the airing of action in the 2024 Paris Olympics later in the year, during which POC President Bambol Tolentino also pledged a house and lot for a gold medal by any Filipino in the summer spectacle.

A crack group of world-class bets led by pole vaulter EJ Obiena and gymnast Caloy Yulo will banner the Philippine campaign in the French capital, and triumphing in their respective sports would mean a brand new property in Tagaytay City known as Olympic Village.

“If I gave houses and lots to the medalists in the Tokyo Olympics, why can’t [we] do it again for Paris?” Tolentino said in during the launch of the POC-Cignal TV deal “Isang Daang Taon Laban Para sa Bayan: Celebrating 100 Years of Filipino Excellence in the Olympics” in Mandaluyong City.

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Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo was the first elite athlete to have a property there after winning the women’s 55-kilogram gold in weightlifting in Tokyo in 2021. Tolentino then gave homes to boxing silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam and later on bronze medal winner Eumir Marcial.

“Our gold medalist, one or more, in Paris fully deserves this reward for their hard work, dedication and love for sport and country,” said Tolentino, the first POC president to secure a monthlong camp for a Philippine Olympic delegation.