Cost of Olympic quest – P14M

With a hundred days left before the 2008 Olympics, the price tag of the Philippine campaign to send as many athletes to Beijing has reached more than P14 million.

And so far, 14 athletes have made it for a ratio of P1 million for every qualifier.

“Maybe a couple more can make it. But so far it’s 14,” said Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez yesterday who bared the breakdown of their expenses heading to the Games.

Ramirez said boxing is on top of the list with P3 million followed by taekwondo’s P2.3 million, swimming’s P2.1 million, shooting with P2 million and wushu, a demo sport, also with P2 million.

Then it’s fencing with P1.2 million, archery with P645,000, judo P500,000, rowing P295,000, athletics P256,000 and weightlifting P105,000.

The expenses, according to Ramirez, represent the funding for these chosen sports starting in January this year. And it will continue until the qualifying tournaments for the 2012 London Olympics.

“We’ve spent almost P15 million and with P15 million more coming from the Department of Budget, there should be no problem until the actual days of competition,” he said.

The extra help coming from the private sector serves the campaign in good stead, according to Ramirez.

“From time to time I report to the President (Arroyo) and she wants us to keep our focus on the Olympic training program. We have to continue preparing for the 2012 Olympics,” Ramirez added.

So far, 14 athletes have qualified, including wild card entries Eric Ang of shooting and two more from athletics who have yet to be named.

The others assured of tickets to Beijing are swimmers Miguel Molina, James Walsh, Ryan Arabejo, Daniel Coakley and Christel Simms, divers Sheila Mae Perez and Ryan Rexel Fabriga, taekwondo’s Tshomlee Go and Mary Antoinette Rivero, boxer Harry Tañamor and archer Mark Javier.