Top Asiad, PHL sports execs lead walk for Pinoy athletes

MANILA, Philippines – The countdown to the Asian Games from September 19 to October 4 in Incheon, South Korea is on.

Around 100 days before the start of the biggest sports extravaganza in Asia, key officials from the Olympic Council of Asia, Incheon Games Organizing Committee, Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee led the “Walk a Mile” held recently in the heart of Manila. It was participated mostly by the national athletes, coaches, officials and citizens from other walks of life.

 â€œWalk a Mile” aims to drumbeat support to the Filipino athletes that will be competing in the 17th edition of the quadrennial meet, where there will be 437 events in 36 sports. It started in Malate and ended in Luneta, in front of the Rizal Monument, where the Natonal Hero is said to be a prominent fencer.

Vahid Karnady of the Olympic Council of Asia mentioned that the Philippines is a sports pioneer in Asia, also having been the gracious host of the Asian Games Centennial Celebration.

Officials of the Incheon Games Organizing Committee were also optimistic and looking forward to the Filipino athletes that will compete in South Korea.

“Respected, charismatic and most popular – these are the traits that are described to Filipino athletes competing abroad,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Peping Cojuangco quoted the officials as saying.

Former International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde added that the athletes should enjoy and have fun at the games, have the spirit of camaraderie and cherish the experience. He also mentioned the “passing of the torch” to the country’s new representative Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski.

Philippine sports officials, led by 2014 Asian Games chief of mission and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia, are hopeful that the Filipino athletes can improve and bounce back this year.

During the previous Asiad held in Guangzhou, China, the Philippines tallied 3 gold, 4 silver, 9 bronze performance ranking 19th overall in the medal standings and fifth among Southeast Asian countries. There will be a huge chance for improvement in the medal tally with teams like Gilas Pilipinas competing in men’s basketball after coming over from the FIBA World Cup in Spain.

Laban Pilipinas! Go for the gold in Incheon. And as how the Koreans would say with close fists up in the air, “FIGHTING!”