THE gold medalist for the Philippines at the 2024 Paris Olympics will receive a house and lot as a prize on top of cash incentives provided by law.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino made this assurance in line with the country’s 100th year of Olympic participation.
In 2021, Hidilyn Diaz captured the country’s first gold medal in the Olympics and became the first recipient of a house and lot.
“Definitely (additional incentive aside from the government) kasi nung umupo naman ako, laging meron whether SEA Games, Asian Games, and especially Olympics. Definitely meron ‘yan,” said Tolentino during Thursday’s press conference of the POC’s partnership with Cignal.
“’Yung house and lot, pinag-uusapan namin ni Secgen (Wharton Chan) kung saan maghahanap ng house and lot sa gold medalist,” said the concurrent Tagaytay City mayor.
Tolentino hasn’t committed to additional incentives for the other medalists.
However, in 2021, Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, both silver medalists, along with Eumir Marcial, who received a bronze, all hailing from the boxing arena, were each presented with a house and lot situated in Tagaytay City.
Under Republic Act 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, a gold medalist in the Olympics is entitled to receive P10 million from the government.
Silver medalists in the Olympics, meanwhile, will receive P5 million, while bronze medalists will get P2 million, according to the law.
Obiena leads bidders
The Paris Olympics will be held from July 26 to August 11.
Pole vaulter EJ Obiena is primed to take a podium finish being ranked No. 2 in the world in his event. He also won the silver medal finish in last year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Marcial and Petecio are also out to match or even surpass their performances in Tokyo, with Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan eyeing a medal in gymnastics.
Elreen Ando, John Ceniza, and Vanessa Sarno of weightlifting are also vying for medals after Diaz failed to qualify for this year’s Olympics.
Aira Villegas will also look to follow in the footsteps of Petecio, Paalam, and Marcial with an Olympic medal in Paris.
More Filipinos are also still seeking a spot in the Olympics led by Paalam, Tokyo campaigner Chris Nievarez of rowing, and the Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball team, who will compete in qualification competitions in the coming months.
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