Beijing welcomes Team RP in flag rites

BEIJING – The Philippines’ tri-color fluttered in the wind inside the Olympic Village on a hot Monday afternoon as Team RP was officially welcomed during simple flag-raising ceremony four days before the biggest sporting show on earth fires off in lavish opening rites.

A handful of Team RP members, two RP embassy officials and four members of the Filipino community here stood in attention as the National anthem was played at the 60-hectare Village, home in the next fortnight to 10,708 athletes from a record 205 nations.

Ambassador Sonia Brady and International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde joined the ceremony, which they also both used as an occasion to wish archer Mark Javier, his coach Jennifer Chan and Team RP officials the best of luck. 

Village vice mayor Chen Hong welcomed the team in her short remarks and later presented a Chinese painting on a ceramic plate to RP officials, led by Philippine Olympic Committee treasurer Julian Camacho.

In return, Hong, who subbed for Village mayor Chen Zhili, got a bronze-plated Mother of Pearl tray with the POC logo in the middle from Camacho as athletes, officials and guests applauded.

“It (flag raising) was short and held under very hot weather,” said press officer Joey Romasanta, adding Team RP was elated no end by the presence of the ambassador, Elizalde and some members of the Pinoy community in the rites.

Meanwhile, the main bulk of Team Philippines, made up of 16 officials and 11 athletes, takes a Philippine Airlines plane this morning for a four-hour trip to this bustling Chinese capital.

From the airport, the team will proceed directly to the Village, a vast complex of high-rise apartments just half a mile away from the so-called “Olympic Green” that houses the magnificent Bird’s Nest and Water Cube.

The 11 athletes in this group are boxer Harry Tañamor, swimmers Miguel Molina, James Walsh, Joan Christel Simms, Ryan Arabejo and Daniel Coakley, divers Sheila Mae Perez and Ryan Rexel Fabriga, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, and long jumpers Marestella Torres and Henry Dagmil.

Shooter Eric Ang and Javier have been here since last week, while taekwondo jins Mary Antoinette Rivero and Tshomlee Go will only depart on Aug. 11 since their events will only start on Aug. 20. 

This group is leaving two days ahead of another party that will include President Arroyo, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr., Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.   

Others who attended the rites were Jaime Victor Ledda, RP embassy minister and consul general, administrative official Moying Martelino, Eleanor de la Peña, Roberto Ona, Vincent Villamor, Amethyst Wy Tiu and Katrina Gamboa of the RP community, wushu athletes Benjie Rivera, Mary Jane Estimar, Mariane Mariano, Willy Wang and wushu Chinese coach Liu Yufu.

Ang and his coach, James Chua, didn’t make it to the affair.