The XXVIX Olympiads in Beijing will officially open on August 8-24 2008 and we are proud that 15 Filipinos will be a part of Beijing Olympics. Although relatively small in number, we are still hoping that these 15 Filipino athletes will bring us our first ever gold medal.

The list of Filipino athletes who are battling for the gold are as follows:

1. Eric Ang – Lone Shooting
2. Mark Javier – Archery
3. Harry Tanamor – Boxing
4. Heidilyn Diaz – Weightliftting
5. Mary Antoinette Rivero – Taekwondo
6. Tshomlee Go – Taekwondo
7. Miguel Molina – Swimming
8. James Walsh – Swimming
9. David Coakley – Swimming
10. Ryan Arebejo - Swimming
11. Christel Simms - Swimming
12. Sheila Mae Perez –Diving
13. Ryan Rexel Fabriga – Diving
14. Henry Dagmil – Track and Field
15. Marestella Torres - Track and Field

Filipino delegates will be led by Manny Paquiao. He the be the one who will carry our Philippine flag. According to the Philippines Incentives Act, the government was set to give a 5-million-peso reward for an Olympic gold winner, 2.5 million pesos for a silver medalist and 1 million pesos for a bronze.

However Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the President of the Republic raised the Olympic incentive to 15 million pesos (US$340,909) for any athlete who will bring us our first gold medal from Beijing. Aside from individuals, groups, and companies who promised to provide additional incentives.

I hope all these promises will be given to the athletes and not remain mere promise like what happened to Atlanta Olympics bronze medalist in Boxing Onyok Velasco, who was promised by some politicians incentives but until now, the Ilonggo boxer from Negros Occidental don’t receive the promised amount. Politicians just used him for some publicity.

So our hope is that the 15 Filipino athletes will bring us our first ever gold in the Olympics.

Related Topic:

> Beijing Olympics

> On Men of Sports - Beijing Olympics Latest Medal Standing

Photos by: Journal Online