Philippines’ Carlos Edriel Yulo poses with his gold medal during the podium ceremony for the artistic gymnastics men’s vault event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on August 4, 2024. (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — What should the government do to help increase the country’s medal count in the next Olympics?
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said he will ask this question to bemedalled gymnast Carlos Adriel Yulo, who ended the country’s Paris Olympics drought with twice-in-a-row gold medals.
“Pagka nagkita kami, itatanong ko sa kanya kung ano pa ang maitutulong ng pamahalaan para mas dumami ang ating mga medalists sa Olympics,” Marcos said in an ambush interview.
(Once we meet, I will ask him what can the government do to have more medalists in the Olympics.)
READ: Hero’s welcome awaits gymnast Carlos Yulo
“I will ask Caloy Yulo kung ano ba talaga sa palagay niya, ano pang puwedeng gawin ng pamahalaan para dumami ang ating medalists,” he continued.
(I will ask Caloy Yulo what he thinks and what can the government do to have more medalists.)
Yulo, 24, clinched his first gold on Saturday and his second on Sunday.
“I think he will continue to greater heights in sport, and again, I think he will be the best person to ask what else it is that we can do,” Marcos also said.
The bemedalled gymnast is set to receive P10 million from the Philippine Sports Commission, under Republic Act 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.
Yulo is also set to receive P6 million from the House of Representatives as well as a fully furnished three-bedroom condominium unit worth P24 million in McKinley Hill from Megaworld, and other pledges of free lifetime food, supplies, and services from private companies.
READ: Carlos Yulo to get millions worth of incentives after gold medal win
Aside from Yulo, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz also earned a gold medal during the Tokyo Olympics in 2022.
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