Filipino athletes bound for the 2024 Paris Olympics got a big boost on Friday, June 21, after individually receiving P500,000 financial assistance from Senator Bong Go through the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

The checks were handed out personally by Sen. Go himself at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex along with PSC Commissioners Edward Hayco and Bong Coo, PSC Executive Director Francisco Tatad and film actor Philip Salvador.

Athletes in attendance were boxers Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas, Hergie Bacyadan and Carlo Paalam, gymnast Carlos Yulo, weightlifter Vanessa Sarno, John Febuar Ceniza and Elreen Ando, and rower Joanie Delgaco.

“Ang mahalaga, bigyan natin sila ng suporta mula sa gobyerno even before the competition and after the competition. Ito’y isang pagkilala at pagsaludo sa kanilang sakripisyo at dedikasyon,” said Sen. Go, who is also chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Sports.

Petecio, speaking on behalf of the athletes, thanked the Senator for the support.

“Ramdam na ramdam po namin ang inyong suporta na ibibigay nyo sa amin. Lubos po kaming nagpapasalamat don dahil pinaramdam nyo po yung suporta na kailangan ng mga atleta,” said Petecio, who won the silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Games.

“Sa kabila po ng aming pagod, matinding paghahanda, sakripisyo na nilalaan sa bawat training, pero tinitiis po namin yon para patunayan sa buong mundo na kaya nating iangat ang Pilipinas,” she added.

More athletes are expected to earn berths in the coming days with various international federations scheduled to release the final list of Olympic qualifiers that include swimming, athletics, golf, judo.

The PH team hopes to sustain its historic showing in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago when it bagged one gold, two silver and one bronze medal.