An elite group of athletes will try to end the country’s Olympic gold medal drought next year. Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. yesterday announced plans to hand-pick 50 to 60 athletes who will be given special training for the 2012 London Games.
“Aside from training, we can see them through the Olympic qualifying,” said Cojuangco in a radio interview. “It’s better that this early we build our team and take care of it before the Olympics.”
The POC chief didn’t say how much will be earmarked for the training of the selected athletes, who will be chosen based on their performances in the Indonesia Southeast Asian Games in November.
Boxing, taekwondo, weightlifting, archery and shooting are the country’s best chances for an Olympic medal.
Cojuangco said the International Olympic Committee Solidarity Fund will also take care of the Olympic buildup of 12 promising athletes.
He said the athletes with strong potentials to excel in the world stage will be given $500 allowance per month aside from a budget worth $5,000 for their international training and competitions.
Junior tennis hotshot Jeson Patrombon and swimmer Ryan Arabejo were previous beneficiaries of the IOC Solidarity Fund.
Marc Anthony Reyes, Phil. Daily Inquirer
