FILIPINO athletes who will make the 2024 Paris Olympics cut will earn the privilege of training a full month before the quadrennial games in the French capital.
鈥淭he goal is to have our qualified athletes to be in Paris at least one month before the Olympics,鈥 said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino, who in Paris to make an early reservation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not only us [Philippines] who鈥檚 making a reservation for a training facility, but several other countries as well. It鈥檚 first come, first served so we鈥檙e making sure we get the best one for our athletes,鈥 he added.
The mayor from Tagaytay was impressed with the state-of-the-art facilities in Paris.
鈥淚 personally inspected the venues to make sure they鈥檙e fitted to the needs of our athletes,鈥 said the PhilCycling chief. 鈥淲e wanted a 3-in-1 facility, which should be at least 10 minutes to and from the athletes accommodation or should also be equipped with a kitchen.鈥
Mr. Tolentino said they would ask the Philippine Sports Commission chared by Noli Wala to shoulder the one-month pre-Olympics training camp aside from actual participation.
鈥淲e will ask the PSC to cover the expenses as part of the Olympic journey,鈥 he said.
The country is optimistic it could eclipse, if not match, its historic performance in the 2021 Tokyo Games鈥攁 breakthrough gold by lifter Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo and two silvers and a bronze by boxers Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial respectively. 鈥 Joey Villar
