Filipino Olympic non-medalists to each receive P500K

No medal, no problem! Here’s some uplifting news: Filipino athletes who did not bag a medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics won’t be going home empty-handed.

As per GMA News Online, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said that non-Olympic medalists will be rewarded with P500,000 each courtesy of the POC and the MVP Sports Foundation of business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan. Not bad, right? 

Athletes to receive the P500k incentives are rowing’s Cris Nievarez, taekwondo’s Kurt Barbosa, skateboarding’s Margielyn Didal, shooting’s Jayson Valdez, gymnastics’ Carlos Yulo, boxing’s Irish Magno, judo’s Kiyomi Watanabe, weightlifting’s Elreen Ando, golf’s Juvic Pagunsan, athletics’ EJ Obiena (pole vault) and Kristina Knott (200m), and swimming’s Remedy Rule and Luke Gebbie. Golfers Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan are still in the middle of their Olympic competition, so it’s too early to say if they’re to receive the same incentive. 

“Everyone on Team Philippines in these ‘Golden Olympics’ deserve all the praises, and in this case, incentives, they need,” Tolentino added. “Qualifying for the Olympics is already that difficult, what more competing in the Games themselves.”

Given the hard work and sacrifices these athletes have put in to qualify and compete in the Olympics, they surely deserved the monetary incentive. Even if they didn’t get to bag an Olympic medal for the country, they still made the country proud. This incentive will surely motivate more athletes to reach for their dreams, and go for Olympic glory. 


After all, producing Olympic caliber athletes requires a lot of financial support. As per CNN Philippines, Malacañang admitted that government funding for the country’s athletes has not been enough. This has been a barrier for a lot of athletes to reach for their dreams. With better support, more Pinoy athletes can follow in the footsteps of Hidilyn Diaz and other Olympic winners.

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