Lights on: Paris games begin

MANILA, Philippines —  Team Philippines, the Centennial batch, is ready to go faster, higher, stronger in the Paris Olympics.

Thanks to the groundbreaking showing in Japan spearheaded by weightlifting golden girl Hidilyn Diaz, the current Olympians take the battlefield armed with momentum and firmer self-belief as they rumble against the best of the best in France.

Diaz quenched the country’s 97-year hunger for Olympic glory in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo edition in 2021, a feat complemented by a troika of gritty boxers in silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio and the bronze earner Eumir Marcial.

From mostly “taking part,” the Philippines has finally got to the “winning” component of Olympic founder Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s famous words on the true spirit of the Games.

And for the next 16 days, in the Filipinos’ Olympic birthplace in 1924, the 22-strong aces are poised to keep it this way.

Or better yet, do one better.

Weightlifting titan Diaz won’t be around for this quest in the “City of Light” but Petecio, Paalam and Marcial are back to lead the charge alongside gymnastics world champion Carlos Yulo and world No. 2 pole vaulter EJ Obiena.

“Lagi kong sinasabing walang hinto hangga’t walang ginto. “Yun ang nagpu-push sa akin,” said Petecio, who will carry the Philippine flag in the glitzy river opening alongside Paalam.

The Pinoy athletes are highly upbeat of this campaign for good reason.

Take into consideration the fact the warriors in Paris have enjoyed a lot more financial support and extensive buildup than the Tokyo group, which prepared under the harsh circumstances of the pandemic and still delivered.

For weightlifter Elreen Ando, there’s added pressure of proving her worth after beating Diaz herself for a ticket in the women’s -59kg competition but she’s ready to face it head on.

“Excited ako sa lahat na ipakita ko sa buong Pilipinas na kaya ko,” she told One Sports.

It’s the second Olympic appearance of the strongwoman from Cebu, who as a wide-eyed debutant in Tokyo, placed seventh in the -64kg division.

“(Unlike last time), mas excited ako maglaro ngayon at goal ko talaga yung medal or gold medal sa Olympics,” said Ando.

Marcial, who opens the Philippine campaign on Saturday along with Yulo and rower Joanie Delgaco, is raring to go.

“There’s no more time for excuses, no time for any explanations because I am ready,” he wrote on social media. “I just ask that you watch my fight and continue to pray and rally behind us as we officially begin our 2024 Paris Olympics journey.”

And of course, on the heels of the most successful Olympic haul in history, one can’t discount that winning feeling upon entering the France battlefront, something that’s never been felt before going to past Games.

“We will deliver,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino.

A month before the July 26 opening, the POC had arranged for a pre-tournament training camp for the Olympians in the French city of Metz.

“Ito po ang tamang template,” said Tolentino.

President Marcos himself led the well-wishers for the Olympic team, expressing it personally during a send-off last month and again during a portion of his State of the Nation Address.

“Mataas ang morale ng mga athletes,” said Tolentino.