PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee (POC) President Bambol Tolentino has announced that 13 Filipinos are technically going to the Paris Olympics with 12 more hoping to qualify for Team Philippines, which is celebrating its 100th year participation in the Games.
Also, the POC has formalized negotiations with a month-long training camp in a world-class facility at Les Arenas Metz in La Moselle ahead of the July 26 to August 11.
Nine athletes are going to Paris by direct qualifications, this includes pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena, boxers Eumir Felix Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, Erleen Ann Ando and John Febuar Ceniza, and gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan.
A fourth weightlifter, Rosegie Ramos, according to Tolentino, is technically qualified in women’s 49 kgs class despite winding up No. 11 in the world rankings after the Phuket qualifiers last month.
The 12th and 13th qualifiers, Tolentino said, are Kyla Sanchez and Jarrod Hatch, who are guaranteed berths in swimming under the universality rule.
The potential qualifiers meanwhile are Robyn Brown (athletics), Kurt Barbosa (taekwondo), Cris Nievarez, Joanie Delgaco (rowing), Keisei, Shugen Nakano, Yuta Watanabe (judo), Jericho Francisco (skateboarding), Patrick Coo (BMX cycling), Shagne Yaoyao (MTB cycling), Emma Malabuyo (gymnastics), Bianca Pagdanganan (golf) and Carlo Paalam, Criz Laurente, Hergie Bacyadan and Rogen Ladon (boxing).
Tolentino also announced Cignal as the official sponsor of the Les Arenas Metz training camp Peak as the official apparel also for the camp and pre-Olympic preparations, with Smart and Standard Insurance as major backers.
Tolentino said that the Les Arenas Metz training camp is a first in POC history.
