THE Philippine men’s curling team of Marc and Enrico Pfister, Christian Haller, Alan Frei and Benjo Delarmente received an additional bonus of $5,000 each, or P291,000, for their historic Asian Winter Games gold medal in Harbin, China last week.
It came from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) after its president, Abraham Tolentino, personally handed the bonus on Monday before the squad left for Switzerland to resume training.
“The incentive may not be in parallel with their effort and dedication — and even the expenses they personally incurred — but it’s one small way for the POC to show its gratitude to the team,” said the Tagaytay City mayor.
It was apart from the P2 million, or P500,000 each of the squad members will get from government via the expanded National Athletes Incentives Act.
This came after Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chair Richard Bacmann vowed full support of the Filipino curlers as well as the whole winter sports teams that funded itself in Harbin and in their preparation leading up to it.
“The PSC remains committed to expand the necessary support for winter sports and provide appropriate programs that will be delivered within the grassroots level to sustain the achievements we attained and the growing dynamics of our local sports scene, making us equipped for greater challenges ahead,” said Mr. Bachmann.
Mr. Tolentino also vowed to ask no less than President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. himself if they meet to help the national winter games team as they eye a breakthrough medal in the Winter Olympics in Italy next year.
Winter sports disciplines have yet to receive regular funding from government because they are still relatively new.
“The path to Milano Cortina has become clearer, and on to our goal of a first Winter Olympics medal,” said Mr. Tolentino. — Joey Villar
