PHILIPPINE athletes bound for the 2024 Paris Olympics were feted in a send-off celebration on Friday night at the Ayuntamiento de Manila in Intramuros.
The send-off, hosted by the Philippine Olympic Committee, was held exactly 35 days before the opening of the Games as most of the locally-based athletes are leaving on Saturday for Metz, France where they will hold a month-long training camp before heading to Paris.
Only Carlos Yulo of gymnastics will not make the early Saturday morning trip to France as he will be leaving the country sometime next week.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was the guest of honor of the event where he provided inspirational words for the athletes.
Marcos Jr.'s message to Paris Olympians
“To our athletes, you carry our hopes and dreams to Paris. You also carry with you the banner of our nation that believes in you, stands proud of you, and celebrates your every triumph, and is with you in any obstacle,” said Marcos Jr.
“Whether it’s the boxing ring, gymnastics floor, sculling rowing water, or any area you are competing, exemplify the very best of what it means to be a Filipino athlete – competitive, courageous, and determined. But we do it with a smile,” Marcos said.
Nine Filipino athletes bound for Paris were present in the send-off led by Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, who will carry the flag in the opening ceremony on July 26.
Vanessa Sarno, Elreen Ando, and John Ceniza of weightlifting, Hergie Bacyadan and Aira Villegas of boxing, Joanie Delgaco of rowing and Yulo were also present in the during the ceremony.
EJ Obiena of athletics, Eumir Marcial of boxing, Aleah Finegan, Levi Ruivivar, and Emma Malabuyo of gymnastics, and Samantha Catantan of fencing are already out of the country for training.
More athletes from golf, athletics, and swimming are expected to join what currently stands as a 15-person Philippine athlete delegation for Paris.
Bambol heads VIPs
POC president Abraham Tolentino, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann, and Senators Francis Tolentino, and Pia Cayetano were among the VIPs who attended the send-off.
A Holy Mass was held before the actual send-off ceremony that was also organized by Cignal, the official broadcaster of the Olympic Games in the Philippines.
The audience also caught a glimpse of the barong designed by Francis Libiran that Petecio and Paalam will wear in the parade of nations on July 26.
The POC also presented the official sponsors of Team Philippines in Cignal TV, Smart, Adidas, Peak, Francis Libiran, Samsung, Aice, Delsey Paris, Les Arenes Metz, and Olympic Solidarity.
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