TOKYO. – Not one of the 19 Filipino athletes who competed in the pandemic-hit Tokyo Olympics will be left empty-handed, according to Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
“The non-medalists in the Tokyo Olympics will receive incentives of P500,000 each,” Tolentino said on Thursday.
The POC and the MVP Sports Foundation of business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan will reward the non-medalists on Team Philippines.
They are rowing’s Cris Nievarez, taekwondo’s Kurt Barbosa, skateboarding’s Margielyn Didal, shooting’s Jayson Valdez, gymnastics’ Carlos Yulo, boxing’s Irish Magno, judo’s Kiyomi Watanabe, weightlifting’s Elreen Ando, golf’s Juvic Pagunsan, athletics’ EJ Obiena (pole vault), and Kristina Knott (200m) and swimming’s Remedy Rule and Luke Gebbie.
“Everyone on Team Philippines in these ‘Golden Olympics’ deserve all the praises, and in this case, incentives, they need,” Tolentino said. “Qualifying for the Olympics is already that difficult, what more competing in the Games themselves.”
Hidilyn Diaz won the country’s first Olympic gold medal in women’s weightlifting, while Nesthy Petecion clinched a silver in women’s boxing.
