Senator Christopher “Bong” Go will lend a helping hand in raising the number of Filipino qualifiers to the 2024 Paris Olympics by seeking additional funding.
So far, the Philippines has four qualified Olympic bets: EJ Obiena of pole vault, Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan of gymnastics and Eumir Marcial of boxing.
Go said having more Paris qualifiers will enhance the country’s bid to bring home more medals.
Also, Go is vouching for institutionalizing the Philippine National Games to boost the country’s chances of scouting the best available athletes.
During the 3rd Siklab Youth Awards at Market! Market! Activity Center in Taguig City last Monday, Go, who is the author of Senate Bill No. 423 or the Philippine National Games Act of 2022, said the PNG becoming a biennial tournament will make the tournament up to standard and make it easier for the national sports associations to identify talent.
“We want to institutionalize this so that it will continue every two years. The funding and support here are important as well as making it organized,” said Go, who was honored as the “Sports Godfather.”
“That is because this is where we will discover our potential athletes. We are lucky in Metro Manila but what about those in the far-flung areas? There are a lot of strong people, especially those living in the mountains that we can discover through the Philippine National Games. We want to pass this bill so that it continues.”
A total of 60 young athletes from 33 sports shared the limelight in the returning awards ceremony for the finest Filipino junior and youth athletes.
