Tio’s next stops: Tokyo, Paris

Christian Tio PHI in action during the Sailing Mens Kiteboarding IKA at Club Náutico San Isidro. The Youth Olympic Games, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday 13th October 2018. Photo: Gabriel Heusi for OIS/IOC. Handout image supplied by OIS/IOC

Aside from the cash windfall, kiteboarding sensation Christian Tio is looking at even brighter things to come.

Soon after giving the Philippines its lone medal—a silver—in the recent Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tio will receive P3 million from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

Under the law, the PSC will award the 17-year-old a P2.5-million reward, while the POC bared it is shelling out an additional P500,000 for the Filipino-Norwegian who was raised and learned the sport as a seven-year-old in Boracay.

But the good news didn’t stop there, as the prospects of Tio competing in the Summer Olympics became closer to reality as the sport is included as regular sport in the 2024 Paris Games.

For the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, kiteboarding will be a demonstration sport.

POC president Ricky Vargas said “the board had no second thoughts about granting” the incentive.

“The achievement of this young man gives inspiration to the many grassroots athletes who aspire to give glory to our country” said Vargas. “It also continues our initiative to reward outstanding performances by our athletes.”

Vargas said the POC unanimously approved the request for the reward sought by YOG chief of mission Jonne Go, the president of the canoe kayak dragonboat federation.