Reward for first Filipino Olympic gold winner above 200,000 USD
25/7/2008 16:44
The bonus for the first Filipino Olympic gold medalist has reached 9.5
million pesos (US$214,000) after a new reward pledge came to light
today.
Sports apparel company No Fear, through former Wushu Federation
Philippines president Jimmy Ong, has made an additional 1-million-peso
(22,600-dollar) pledge as reward to the first Filipino athlete who will win the
country's breakthrough gold medal in the Beijing Olympics set to begin on August
8, Philippine TV network GMA News reported.
No Fear became the fourth private
firm to pledge a financial reward bringing to 9.5 million pesos the total
incentives to be given the first local athlete who can end the country's 80-year
gold-medal hunt in the quadrennial Games.
"Our athletes are well prepared for
the Beijing Games and we hope that the incentive will push them beyond their
limits," said Philippine Olympic Committee spokesman Joey Romasanta.
Private
firms who have pledged rewards before including Microsoft Philippines, Chevron
and Filipino-Chinese business tycoon Lucio Tan. All three have promised to give
1 million pesos.
Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has also pledged 1
million pesos.
An additional 500,000-peso reward will come from the
Philippine Sportswriters' Association.
The government through the Incentives
Act will give 5 million pesos for every Olympic gold won.
A total of 15
athletes will banner the country in seven sports with boxer Harry Tanamor and
taekwondo jins Tshomlee Go and Ma. Antoinette Rivero being picked favored to
bring home an Olympic title.
The Beijing organizers will officially recognize
Philippines entry to the Olympic village on August 4 where the raising of the
Philippine flag will be held at 1 pm local time (0500 GMT).
Xinhua
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