The Philippines will win its first gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics next year.
Valenzuela City Rep. Eric Martinez
Valenzuela City Rep. Eric Martinez, chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Sports, have much faith in this that he made this prediction the center of his pitch for funds from private and public agencies to finance the training of gold medal candidates for the Tokyo Olympics.
Olympic organizers have disclosed that the Tokyo Olympics will push through in July next year “with or without COVID-19.”
During the recent budget defense of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Martinez urged officials to contribute more funds for the expected expenditures of the country’s athletes in Tokyo.
“We have not won a single Olympic gold, but this is the time we might gt it. We could not experience this in our life time, Tokyo is our best chance to strike gold,” he said.
Martinez said five top Filipino athletes have the best chance of winning gold medals but support for their training and other requirements is badly needed.
“Thus far, gymnast Carlos Yulo, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, and boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno have already officially qualified to participate, with Hydilyn Diaz expected to be added to the list of Olympic qualifiers” the administration solon said.
Pagcor has been one of the major contributors to Philippine sports but its finances have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The State-run casino operator granted the Philippine Sports Commission P642 million in financial support last year.
“Unfortunately, the remittances of Pagcor is dependent on its income. It has stopped operations starting the second half of March,” an unidentified Pagcor official told the House Committee on Appropriations during the budget hearing.
Martinez aired hopes that with Pagcor set to resume operations, it can still contribute to the rigid training athletes require.
He disclosed that the PSC guaranteed the youth and sports panel that it still has money for the Olympic hopeful but this will last only until December.