THREE-TIME Olympic swimmer Akiko Thomson Guevarra was tapped last Tuesday by the International Olympic Committee, together with other past Olympians and Paralympians, to urge world leaders to ensure equal access to the COVID-19 vaccines.
Guevarra, who is also the Philippine Olympians Association President, was among the 20 Olympians and Paralympians invited by the IOC to appear in an IOC-produced YouTube video advocating accessibility of the vaccines for all.
The former swimmer, who saw action for the Philippines in the 1988 Seoul, 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, was joined in the distinguished list by Spanish basketball star Pau Gasol, South Korean table tennis great Seung-min Ryu, Polish Olympic cycling medalist Maja Martyna WÅ‚oszczowska and Italian Olympic swimming champion Federica Pellegrini.
Gasol, Ryu, WÅ‚oszczowska and Pellegrini are all members of the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
Joining them in the video was IOC President Thomas Bach, who won an Olympic gold medal for Germany in the men’s team foil event of the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.
In their message, the athletes stressed that “as athletes, we can bring the world together through the power of sport. Now, more than ever, we stand united to use that power of sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Movement to help win the battle against COVID because we go faster, we aim higher, we are stronger when we stand together.
“We have been given a way forward with a safe and effective vaccine that can help save precious lives and protect our friends… and our families,” they added.
“So we call on governments, foundations, philanthropists, health organizations and social businesses to join hands in giving free and equal access to the vaccine for everybody across the world to pledge our collective responsibility to protect those who are the most vulnerable, because everyone on this planet has a right to live a healthy life. We are stronger together when we stand in solidarity and care for each other,” the said in the one-minute video.
The video was released in time for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games opening on Feb. 4.
Fil-Am Alpine skier Asa Miller will be the country’s lone representative in the sportsfest.
