Job well done in Paris

PARIS — Au revoir! À la prochaine!

Team Philippines bade goodbye to the 2024 Olympics – the Paris Games which were days of days and moments of moments for Philippine sports with a solid 2-0-2 gold-silver-bronze haul from a P100-million war chest from the government.

Gymnastics double-gold winner Carlos Yulo and boxing bronze winner Aira Villegas were to lead the makeup of the Philippine team in the closing parade at Stade de France Sunday night.

It’s a grand celebration for humanity, for the whole world and for our island nation of 120 million in the Pacific in reaching new heights on its very centennial year of participation in the quadrennial Games. It turned out a golden 10th decade in the greatest show on earth.

Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, Hergie Bacyadan, Eumir Marcial, Lauren Hoffman, John Ceniza, Elreen Ann Ando and Vanessa Sarno were also listed to represent Team Philippines in the closing rites after a historic salvo propelling the country to No. 35 in the medal table.

China (39-27-24) and the USA (38-42-42) finished in a dead heat, with Australia (18-18-14), Japan (18-12-13) and host France (16-24-22) comprising the Top 5.

The Philippines posted its strongest show in the medal race in 56 long years – No. 7 among Asian countries behind China, Japan, Korea, Uzbekistan, Iran and Chinese Taipei.

Halfway through the fortnight of sporting battles in the French capital, the Philippines even stood inside the Top 20. Team Philippines’ medal drive conked out towards the end but it didn’t take away the sheen and luster of the team’s bright days in the French capital.

“We’re the best performer in Southeast Asia and No. 7 in Asia,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said.

The Philippines was No. 1 among countries competing in the SEA Games with its closest pursuer Indonesia also winning two gold medals but only had a bronze in badminton. Kazakhstan, an Asian Games powerhouse, surprisingly only has one gold medal in judo.

“We’ve gone quality in Paris – in gymnastics, a blue-chip sport,” Tolentino said. “And looking at the SEA Games countries, we outperformed our closest neighbors.”

“The Paris Olympics has officially ended and we reached new heights in Philippine sports history,” said Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann.

“We cannot imagine the joy flowing through every Filipino as the country secured two golds and two bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics – the highest number we’ve ever achieved,” Bachmann added. “These medals are just one part of the legacy we’ve built. With our recent performance in Paris, we proved that our sporting success is sustainable and expanding.”

The PSC chair said the government sports body is committed to do a better job by pounding on the growing motivation of every Filipino, especially aspiring athletes. And they aim to promote the positive effects of sport and advance the status of national grassroots sports initiatives.

For the Paris Games, Bachmann said the government poured in no less than P100 million in the last two years to fund the athletes’ participation in the qualifying games and in the Olympic proper.

On the glowing end result, Bachmann said: “Our agenda has proven effective, as shown by the global victories we achieved. We can support the rise of new talents to reach the highest levels and produce world-class athletes which will continuously connect our country’s name within the international sporting limelight.”

Of course, there’s the corporate support, including a large chunk from the MVP Sports Foundation. Medalists Yulo, Villegas and Nesthy Petecio were among the athletes backed by the MVPSF of sportsman/businessman Manny V. Pangilinan.

Bachmann stressed the government support is not to end.

“This support covers all, from grassroots to elite level. This year, the country’s primary sporting facilities will start its upgrade to cater more aspiring athletes in bid to intensify our global sporting campaign,” he said.

These are geared towards helping Team Philippines sustain a glorious ride in international wars – and of course stretch the golden streak in the Los Angeles Games in 2028.