‘Atletang Ayala’ Joanie Delgaco nurtures another Olympic dream

FILE–Philippines’ Joanie Delgaco competes in the women’s single sculls final D of the rowing competition at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Centre in Vaires-sur-Marne during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on August 2, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)

MANILA – The “Atletang Ayala” project of the Ayala Center for Excellence in Sports will support its roster of 19 athletes all the way, including those dreaming of making it to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

This year’s batch is led by Paris Olympics rower Joanie Delgaco and Paralympian Allain Ganapin of taekwondo.

Delgaco, 26, was the first female rower of the Philippines to qualify for the Olympics.

She did not medal in Paris but landed No. 2 overall in the Division D finals.

READ: Joanie Delgaco finishes as 20th best rower in Paris Olympics

The other Ayala athletes are Amparo Acuña and Franchette Quiroz, shooting; Kurt Barbosa (Tokyo Olympics 2021), Baby Canabal, Dave Cea, Laila Delo and Veronica Garces, taekwondo; Jason Baucas, wrestling; Abby Bidaure and Jonathan Reaport, archery; Janna Catantan, Allaine Cortey, Noelito Jose Jr., Sammuel Tranquilan and Nathaniel Perez, fencing; and John Ferrer and Leah Jhane Lopez, judo.

The two-pronged program augments resources for training and competition while providing opportunities for career growth.

They are full-salaried employees with flexible work arrangements in various Ayala companies, covered by a health program, which includes physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, and sports psychology; have access to world-class sports and fitness facilities at Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Cavite; and will be granted fixed support for international training camps and competitions.

“Atletang Ayala will help me a lot in terms of extra support for my training here and abroad. It will also help me as a professional in the Ayala group, in terms of new skills and knowledge imparted by the program,” Delgaco, a native of Iriga City, Camarines Sur, said during the new batch’s launch at Ayala Triangle Tower Two in Makati City on Wednesday morning.

READ: Joanie Delgaco gets Olympics scholarship after Paris stint

Delgaco and her batchmates will also actively participate in sports-related and volunteer programs of various Ayala companies and Ayala Foundation for the next four years.

Without mentioning specific amounts, Atletang Ayala project head Jan Bengzon said their salaries are “very competitive.”

“Think about being at par with incentives for gold medalists,” Bengzon said.

He said the bemedalled athletes are ranked within the top 200 in their events and are, realistically, most likely to make it big in international competitions.

“Through the Atletang Ayala program, the Ayala group seeks to inspire more Filipinos to pursue their athletic dreams and bring the nation together through sports,” AC Mobility chief executive officer Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala said in a statement.

Atletang Ayala’s first batch was formed in April 2022 when the Covid-19 pandemic was starting to calm down.

Bidaure and fellow archers, sister Pia and Andrea Robles; fencers Perez and Jose; swimmers Jasmine Alkhaldi and Xiandi Chua; and karateka Prince Alejo made up the initial batch.

“Atletang Ayala is the group’s investment in the next generation of sports leaders who will influence and inspire others to excel in whatever field they choose,” Ayala Foundation president Tony Lambino said.