HIDILYN’S OLYMPIC BID DRAWS BOOST
Olympian weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz received yesterday a P2million financial package from the Philippine Sports Commission and private businessman Dennis Uy to help her in training and boost her chances for the gold medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and in the Olympics in Tokyo, Japan next year.
“For me, malaking bagay. Kasi maglalaro ako sa Olympics and there’s a lot of competition that I need to complete, and preparation towards the Olympic, yun medyo mahirap,” Diaz said in a chance interview in Malacañang where she met Executive Sec. Salvador Medialdea, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go and Uy.
“I’m so grateful for the help, for the support they gave me,” she said.
Diaz had sought out for help in her social media account last June for kindhearted individuals to support her and other Filipino athletes for finances for training.
“I think nakatulong ata and, and it makes me grow and Philippine sports grow and learn from it. And yeah, Olympics kasi ang laking, medyo, yun yung lahat na pinapangarap ng isang atleta,” he said.
“And the reality is mahirap, mahirap talagang mag qualify. And kailangan ng financial support. And yeah nakatulong siguro, hindi ako sure dun, but I’m grateful for, na hanggang ngayon lumalaban pa ako,” said Diaz, who was teary-eyed during the media interview.
Go, chairman of the Senate committee on sports, said he does not mind that Diaz used her social media to ask for government help. What is important now is the government and the private sector have joined hands to help the Filipino athletes.
Diaz said she continues to aspire for a gold in the Olympics.
“Of course, gusto kong manalo, gusto kong dalhin ang gold medal. And I can’t do it alone, I need help from the government, I need help from other people, mga specialist,” she said.
Diaz appealed also for prayers from the Filipino people.
PSC commissioner William Ramirez lauded the ceremonial signing of memorandum of agreement between the PSC and Phoenix for the package for Diaz.
Ramirez said the Olympian will be getting an initial package amounting to P2 milion.
The PSC will be providing Diaz a total of P48,000 a month allowance, plus housing and food, coach and foreign training allowance.