Special report: 2008 Olympic Games
MANILA, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday raised the Olympic incentive to 15 million
pesos (340,909 U.S. dollars) for any Filipino athlete who gets a gold medal in
Beijing.
Gracing part of the 37-member Beijing-bound
Philippine Olympic delegation to Beijing in the presidential palace for a
send-off party, Arroyo said the government has decided to set aside an
additional 4.5 million pesos (102,272 U.S. dollars) as Olympic bonus to lure the
country's first Olympic gold.
According to the country's Incentives Act, the
government is set to give a 5-million-peso reward for an Olympic gold winner,
2.5 million pesos for a silver medalist and 1 million for a bronze.
However, individuals, groups, and companies have
promised a combined sum of 10.5 million pesos for the gold medalist in the
Beijing Games.
Wearing the Philippine Olympic delegation uniform
herself, a cheering Arroyo said she wished the extra bonus would spur the
athletes to bring out their potential to clinch a much-expected honour for the
country.
The Philippine Olympic Committee First Vice-President
Monico Puentevella said the incentive promise of 15 million pesos is the
"biggest ever" in Philippine history and he felt very happy about the athletes
getting this grand inspiration.
The Philippines has not yet won an Olympic gold
during its participation in the Games since 1924. The last time the Philippines
got a medal was in 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
The country's 15 athletes to Beijing will compete in
boxing, taekwondo, shooting, archery, diving, swimming, athletics and
weight-lifting. Boxer Harry Tanamor and taekwondist Mary Antoinette Rivero are
considered the country's best chances to bag a goal in Beijing.
Arroyo is also invited to attend the opening ceremony
of the Games on August 8.
Arroyo told Chinese Ambassador Song Tao, who attended
the send-off party, that she is expecting to join the heads of the states in the
opening and she wishes Beijing to host a successful Games.
