Wednesday, July 23, 2008 RP athletes leave Aug. 5 for Beijing Games By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
THE main bulk of the 33-member Philippine delegation, including 15 athletes, will leave for China on August 5 for the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez said no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo will spearhead the Philippine delegation and grace the opening ceremonies of the greatest sporting show on earth. The games will be held from August 8 to 24.
Arroyo and her husband, Ramirez, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Jose "Peping" Cojuangco, and Senator Gregorio Honasan will be leaving on August 7, two days after the athletes, coaches, and officials depart for China on board a special flight provided by Philippine Airlines (PAL).
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno are also reportedly part of the RP delegation, together with their wives.
Ramirez said Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao was tapped by Malacañang to carry the Philippine flag during the parade of athletes and is expected in China if his accreditation gets finished on time.
Ramirez, just like in his previous pronouncements, said the Filipino athletes will be gunning for the country's first Olympic gold.
Ramirez said he is relying on veteran taekwondo jins Marie Antoinette Rivero and Tshomlee Go, and boxer Harry Tañamor to deliver the gold.
The PSC chief said even divers Sheila Mae Perez and Ryan Rexel Fabriga have a good chance of landing medals in Beijing.
"Our athletes have trained hard and I believe they can win. We stand a good chance," Ramirez said without elaborating further.
Rivero and Go trained hard in South Korea, while Tañamor honed his skills in Cuba.
"I don't doubt their fighting forms. They are in their best condition for Beijing," Ramirez said.
The other members of RP's Olympics team are archer Mark Javier, shooter Eric Ang, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, long jumpers Marestella Torres and Henry Dagmil, and swimmers Miguel Molina, Daniel Coakley, James Walsh, Ryan Arabejo, and Christel Simms.
