MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday gave Filipino athletes participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics a much-needed morale booster ahead of the Summer Games in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Speaking at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, Marcos addressed the 28 Filipino athletes who qualified for the Olympics and Paralympics in the French capital.
“As we speak, twenty-eight of our finest athletes are competing in Paris now for the glory of the Philippines. Let us wish them well and the best of luck,” Marcos said, drawing applause and cheers from the crowd.
The Philippines is celebrating its 100th year of participation in the Olympics.
A total of 22 Filipino athletes are set to take part in the Olympics, set for July 26 to Aug. 11, while six have qualified for the Paralympics from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8.
Filipinos qualified for athletics, boxing, fencing, golf, gymnastics, judo, rowing, swimming, and weightlifting for the Games.
Successful ‘Palaro’
Likewise, the President hailed the successful reiterations of the Palarong Pambansa, which he described as vital for the development of the country’s future national athletes.
“Nailunsad na namang muli ang taunang Palarong Pambansa, matapos ang tatlong taon na pagkakatigil nito dahil sa pandemya. Binabati natin ang Marikina at Cebu, at ang Kagawaran ng Edukasyon sa kanilang matagumpay na pagtatanghal ng mga Palarong ito (The Palarong Pambansa successfully returned after a three-year stoppage due to the pandemic. We congratulate Marikina and Cebu, as well as the Department of Education for the success in ushering in the return of the Palaro),” Marcos said.
Marikina City hosted the 2023 edition of the annual multi-sport event involving student-athletes, while Cebu served as the venue for the recently concluded 2024 Palarong Pambansa.
“We will continue to support these health-enhancing sports programs. Through these, we will also set forth our youth on the same well-established path that has taken some of our national champions and renowned athletes to sporting greatness,” the President said.
‘Thank you, PBBM’
In a statement shortly after Marcos’ SONA, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino thanked the President for his support of Philippine sports development.
“Thank you, PBBM, for your kind wishes for the athletes at the Olympics,” Tolentino said.
“It’s definitely inspiring and it’s an extreme boost to the morale not only to our athletes competing in Paris but to the entire Philippine sports,” added Tolentino, who will fly to Paris Tuesday to oversee the Philippine Olympic campaign.
“This may be exaggerated but the President putting emphasis on sports in a very important event in his administration—something that’s never been done by past Presidents in memory— gives us the goosebumps,” added Tolentino, who, as POC head, personally suggested to Malacañang for the President Marcos to include the sports agenda in his SONA. (PNA)
Watch: President Marcos highlights support for Filipino athletes
