Team PH raises flag in Olympic village today

LONDON—In its first official act as member of the London Olympic family, Team Philippines will join several other nations in the traditional welcome and flag-raising rites on Saturday inside the sprawling Games Village, home to more than 15,000 athletes and officials from 204 nations in the next three weeks.

Nine athletes and a handful of officials as well as some guests from the PH embassy and Filipino community will be in attendance during the morning program as Team PH and at least 10 other countries join the traditional ceremony ahead of the Games’ opening on July 27.

Only boxer Mark Anthony Barriga and BMX rider Danny Caluag will not be around for the event.

According to Team PH chief of mission Manny Lopez, ambassador Enrique Manalo will grace the affair.

“This (flag raising) is our first official act as member of the London Olympic family,” said Lopez, who arrived on Wednesday to pave the way for the arrival of the Filipino athletes and officials at the Village.

In another highlight, an athlete each from the countries joining the ritual this morning will sign on the Olympic Truce Wall, which forms the backdrop for the ceremonies set at the Plaza in the heart of the Village.

Lopez said long jumper Marestella Torres will most likely do the honor for Team PH, being a two-time Olympian. The PH team supported by ICTSI, Bank of Philippine Islands, Mizuno, Samsonite, Petron, Procter & Gamble, PSC, Philracom, Smart Sports and TV5.

Barriga and Caluag won’t make it because they have yet to conclude their final buildup, with the boxer still training in Cardiff, Wales, and the cyclist honing his skills in the Netherlands. They will join their teammates on July 24.

Aside from Torres, who first saw action in the Beijing Olympics, the other athletes attending the program are archers Mark Javier and Rachel Cabral, swimmers Jessie Lacuna and Jasmine Alkhaldi, judoka Tomohiko Hoshina, weighlifter Hidilyn Diaz, long distance runner Rene Herrera and shooter Brian Rosario.

Coaches Josefina Corral (shooting), Tony Agustin (weighlifting), Joseph Sy (athletics), Yasuhiro Sato (judo), Carlos Brosas (swimming), administrative officer Arsenic Lacson and press officer Joe S. Antonio will also attend the program.