PARIS Paralympic Games veteran Allain Ganapin was tapped as one of the second batch of 19 athletes in Ayala Foundation’s Atletang Ayala program who were presented last week at the One Ayala Tower in Makati City.
“I see that the Atletang Ayala program will help us in training, conditioning, and nutrition, and will bring us to world-level competitions so that we can become Paralympic Games medalists in the future,” the one-armed taekwondo jin said during the presentation.
Also included in the program were Paris Summer Games veteran and Pinay rower Joanie Delgaco, archers Abby Bidaure and Jonathan Reaport, Tokyo Olympian Kurt Ryan Barbosa, fellow taekwondo jins, Baby Canabal, Dave Cea, Veronica Garces, and Laila Delo, fencers Noelito Jose Jr., Samuel Tranquilan, Allaine Cortey, Nathaniel Perez and Janna Catantan, judoka Leah Jhane Lopez, shooters Amparo Acuna and Franchette Quiroz, and wrestler Jason Baucas.
“Atletang Ayala will help me a lot in terms of extra support for my training here and abroad. It will also help me as a professional in the Ayala group, in terms of new skills and knowledge imparted by the program,” Delgaco, the first Filipina rower to play in the Olympic Games, said.
As the latest members of the Atletang Ayala program, the athletes are entitled to support for their competition and training, including the free use of the facilities of the Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite, and coverage by Healthway Medical Network Athletes’ Health program, including physiotherapy and strength and conditioning.
In return, they will be involved in the sports and community-related volunteer activities of the Ayala Group of Companies and Ayala Foundation over the next four years.
“Through the Atletang Ayala program, the Ayala group seeks to inspire more Filipinos to pursue their athletic dreams and bring the nation together through sports,” Ayala chief Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala said in welcoming the new Atletang Ayala members.
“Atletang Ayala is the group’s investment in the next generation of sports leaders who will influence and inspire others to excel in whatever field they choose,” Ayala Foundation president Tony Lambino said.
