IOC to fund the training of 12 Filipino athletes

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the training fund for 12 Filipino athletes in the hope of earning slots for the 2012 London Olympics under the IOC Solidarity Program.

The 12 were chosen from a list of 47 athletes that was submitted by various National Sports Associations (NSAs) to the Philippine Olympic Commmittee (POC). The 12 athletes will receive funding under the IOC Solidarity Program that entails monthly allowances and financial assistance while training for their respective Olympic qualifying events. "These athletes will be receiving monthly allowances of $500. They can use it in whatever way they want, whether for training, food, or other things. The IOC will also provide $5,000 in financial assistance should they compete in an Olympic qualifying event," said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping" Cojuangco Jr. The 12 athletes are Beijing Olympian Mark Javier (archery); long jumpers Marestella Torres and Henry Dagmil (athletics); Emerson Segui (fencing); Roque Abala (rowing); Hagen Topacio and Paul Bryan Rosario (shooting); Jessie King Lascuna and Jasmine Alkhaldi (swimming); John Paul Lizardo and Marlon Avenido (taekwondo) and Margarito Angana (wrestling). Except for Segui, all athletes competed in the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, where Lizardo won a bronze medal. "The support from the IOC will be of great help and will give us the opportunity to train harder," said Lizardo. Cojuangco said the POC also plans to meet with various NSAs to get possible candidates that will form a 60-member athletes’ pool that will train under the soon-to-be established Elite training program, which will be formed in partnership with the Philippine Sports Committee (PSC). Athletes chosen in the said program will be given housing, world class training, the chance to join international tournaments, and proper nutrition. Aside from the Olympic qualifiers, athletes in the Elite training pool will also represent the country in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia. "We’ll try to give them all the things that they need. Of course not everybody will be part of the pool, but at least we’re starting now," added Cojuangco. Cojuangco said that he hopes athletes chosen to join the program would do their share by training eagerly and observing self-discipline. "That is what China, Korea and other countries that are sports powerhouses have been doing. So I’m also appealing to the athletes to make little sacrifices for flag and country," said Cojuangco. – JVP/KY, GMANews.TV