Olympic-bound Filipino athletes to receive cash incentives ahead of Paris Games

Filipino Olympians Eumir Marcial, Carlos Yulo, and Sam Catantan. File photos. 

MANILA — The Philippines' bets in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games later this year are set to receive cash incentives ahead of the competition proper.

This is what Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard Bachmann revealed during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum (PSA) at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Tuesday.

The incentives are from the Philippine senators including Risa Hontiveros.

"Twenty-three million is only from Senator Risa Hontiveros then Senator Bong Go has a figure already. May additional siya. There's also additional from other senators direct to the athletes already na pinasa lang sa PSC and I just signed a cheque siguro mga P30 plus millions," said Bachmann.

So far, 15 Filipino athletes have qualified to the Paris Games: pole vaulter EJ Obiena; gymnasts Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan, Levi Ruivivar, and Emma Malabuyo; boxers Aira Villegas, Nesthy Petecio, Hergie Bacyadan, Eumir Marcial and Carlo Paalam; rower Joanie Delgaco; weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, John Ceniza, and Elreen Ando, and fencer Sam Catantan.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino is expecting around four more athletes, and they will have until the end of the month to qualify and boost the country's chances of getting medals.

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"We have until June 30 to see sino pa ang mag-qualify," added Bachmann.

The PSC has allotted P52 million for the Paris Olympics, including the preparations, training, and actual participation. Also part of the expenditures are those for airfare, luggage, and parade uniforms.

"We've already spent P43 million so I have P8 to P9 million left. Kung kulang man I will look," said Bachmann, who also shared some of the plans of the PSC for the rest of the year.

This includes a seven-story athletes' dormitory to be put up inside the RMSC.

The project should begin with the demolition of the old boxing and Pencak Silat buildings in July and then the ground-breaking in August, and may take at least two years to finish.

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