IN an unprecedented move, President Marcos Jr. yesterday included sports in his third State of the Nation Address, especially on the campaign of 28 Filipino athletes in Paris–22 for the Olympics and six for the Paralympics–starting this Friday in the French capital.
“As we speak, 28 of our finest athletes are competing in Paris now for the glory of the Philippines,” Marcos said, drawing a rousing response from his audience. “Let us wish them well and the best of luck.”
In response, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said:
“Thank you, PBBM, for your kind wishes for the athletes at the Olympics.
“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,” added Tolentino, who will leave for Paris today, Tuesday, to oversee the Philippine Olympic campaign.
“This may be exaggerated but the President putting emphasis on sports in a very important event in his administration–something that’s never been done by past Presidents in memory– gives us goose bumps,” added Tolentino who, as POC head, personally made a suggestion to Malacañang for President Marcos to include the sports agenda in his SONA.
It’s not only the Paris Olympics campaign that was in President Marcos’ SONA, but also grassroots sports.
“Grassroots and sports of all programs are back, nailunsad na namin ang Palarong Pambansa after three years na pagkakatigil nito dahil sa pandemya,” he said. “Binabati natin ang Cebu at Marikina at ang Kagawaran ng Education para sa matagumpay na pagkakatanghal ng mga palarong ito.”
Marcos added: “We will continue to support these health enhancing sports programs. Through these, we will also set forth our youth on the same well-established path taken by some of our national champions and renowned athletes to sporting greatness.”
“We are very grateful to the President for showing his love and concern for sports,” Tolentino said. “And we, at the POC and Philippine sports as a whole, continuously thank his administration for relentlessly supporting sports through his financial support.”
