Siklab Atleta bats for 1st PH Olympic gold

THE SIKLAB Atleta Pilipinas Sports Foundation was launched on Saturday to help the country win its first Olympic gold medal.

"Siklab Atleta Pilipinas Foundation will fuel the Philippines' best athletes to make the country's dream of bagging an Olympic gold a reality. We need to provide our athletes the support befitting their stature as our country's representative to the world," Phoenix Petroleum President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Uy said during the launching at the Century Park Hotel.

The foundation's goals include selecting top-flight, elite Filipino athletes who have the prime potentials to bring pride and honor to the country through winning gold medals in the Olympic Games, and provide the chosen athletes financial and other logistical support in the form of training equipment and facilities, coaching expertise, international competition and exposure, as well as education, housing and livelihood.

The initial list of athletes supported by the foundation include Nicole Tagle (archery); Shawn Cray, Trenton Beram and EJ Obiena (athletics); James Dieparine and Nicole Oliva (aquatics); Eumir Marcial and John Tupas (boxing); Marella Salamat, Ariana Dormitorio and Sienna Flores (cycling); Hermie Macaranas and OJ Fuentes (canoekayak); Carlos Yulo and Kaitlin de Guzman (gymnastics); Kiyomi Watanabe, Mariya Takahashi, Shugen Nakano and Kesei Nakano (judo); James Delos Santos (karate); Philmar Alipayo and Edito Alcala (surfing); Elaine Alora, Pauline Lopez (taekwondo); Kim Mangrobang (triathlon); Hidilyn Diaz and Kristel Macrohon (weightlifting); and Geylord Coveta and Yancy Kabigan (windsurfing).

Siklab Atleta Pilipinas Foundation executive director, Atty. Raymond Zorilla, said the foundation aims to raise PHP1 billion to fund its program.

The Philippines has won 10 medals -- three silvers and seven bronzes -- since it started competing in the Olympic Games. PNA