Makati Mayor Abby Binay welcomes Olympic golfer Dottie Ardina in Makati City. (Photo from Office of the Mayor)
MANILA, Philippines — Olympic golfer Dottie Ardina and Makati Mayor Abby Binay want to promote golf among young citizens of the city.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the local government said Binay and Ardina “discussed how they can collaborate in promoting golf among young Makatizens to develop homegrown Olympians.”
“The mayor expressed appreciation for Ardina’s Olympic feat which has inspired budding Filipino golfers,” it also said.
The Makati government promotes sports through initiatives like STARS (Skills Training, Art, Recreation, and Sports). Under the program, the local government gives free athletic uniforms to the youth.
“Ardina is an elite member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association in America. Through the efforts of Mayor Abby, she was able to gain support from sponsors and sport patrons,” the local government said.
READ: Pagdanganan narrowly misses medal, Ardina helps PH to impressive finish
Ardina and Bianca Pagdanganan finished strong in the women’s golf competition at the Paris Olympics.
However, in a viral video, Ardina expressed dismay over the controversial uniform snafu while taping the Philippine flag on her shirt.
READ: Dottie Ardina reveals what happened behind golf uniform snafu
In a joint statement, the National Golf Association of the Philippines and the Philippine Olympic Committee explained that Ardina and Pagdanganan had to be “dressed down” because their sports attire failed to clear at the French customs.