P30 million – early incentives for Olympic bets

MANILA, Philippines — The Paris Olympic Filipino bets will receive an incentive of at least P1.5 million each even before they leave and wade into battle in the French capital.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann said a group of senators have pledged at least P30 million including P23 million from Sen. Risa Hontiveros to be handed out to the Philippine contingent, currently numbering 15.

“For additional, I know Sen. Bong Go committed funding to the athletes who qualified and also Sen. Risa Hontiveros, so basically she funded, and I asked her to grow the fund because we’ve already have 15 athletes,” said Bachmann during yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

“(A fund of) P23 million is only from Sen. Risa. Sen. Bong Go has a figure already, may additional siya. There’s also additional from other senators direct to the athletes na pinasa lang sa PSC. Siguro mga P30 million plus,” he added.

Go has earlier announced his plan of giving P500,000 each to the Paris Olympians.

These amounts are apart from the proceeds to be generated from the fund-raising PSC Golf Cup set June 14 at the Canlubang Golf and Country Club in Laguna.

“All proceeds will go to the athletes who qualified to the Olympics as additional support that would be divided equally. That’s around P2 million,” said Bachmann.

To date, 15 Philippine bets have made the cut – pole-vaulter EJ Obiena, boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, Aira Villegas and Hergie Bacyadan, gymnasts Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan, Levi Jung-Ruivivar and Emma Malabuyo, weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, John Ceniza and Elreen Ando, rower Joanie Delgaco and fencer Sam Catantan.

Bachmann is expecting more, possibly from swimming, athletics, judo and shooting among others.