Olympic-bound athletes suportado ni Pangulong Marcos

MANILA, Philippines — Sa isang pambihirang pagkakataon ay naglaan ng panahon si Pangulong Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. para sa Philippine sports.

Binanggit ng Presidente ang pagsabak ng 22 national athletes sa 2024 Paris Olympic Games at ng anim na pambato sa Paralympics sa kanyang ikatlong State of the Nation Address (SONA) kahapon.

“As we speak, 28 of our finest athletes are compe­ting in Paris now for the glory of the Philippines,” wika ng Pangulong Marcos. “Let us wish them well and the best of luck.”

Pinasalamatan ni Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino ang Presidente sa pagbibigay ng halaga sa mga atleta.

“Thank you, PBBM, for your kind wishes for the athletes at the Olympics,” ani Tolentino. “It’s definitely inspiring and it’s an extreme boost to the morale not only to our athletes competing in Paris, but to the entire Philippine sports.”

Si weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz ang bumuhat sa kauna-unahang Olympic gold medal ng bansa sa 2020 Tokyo Games.

Babanderahan nina Tok­yo Olympics silver me­dalists Nesthy Petecio at Carlo Paalam at bronze medalist Eumir Marcial ng boxing, pole vaulter EJ O­biena at gymnast Caloy Yulo ang kampanya ng Pinas sa 2024 Paris Olympics.

Ang iba pa ay sina bo­xers Hergie Bacyadan at Aira Villegas, gymnasts Levi Ruvivar, Aleah Finnegan at Emma Malabuyo, weightlifters Elreen Ando, Vanes­sa Sarno at John Ceniza, swimmers Jarod Hatch at Kayla Sanchez, golfers Bianca Pagdanganan at Dottie Ardina, fencer Sam Catantan, Lauren Hoffman at John Cabang-Tolentino ng athletics, Kiyomi Watanabe ng judo at rower Joanie Delgaco.

Nakatakda ang Paris Olympics sa Hulyo 26 hanggang Agosto 11.

Samantala, binanggit din ni Pangulong Marcos ang pagpapatupad ng grassroots sports program ng kanyang administrasyon.