PH athletes feel warmth at Metz training camp

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino expresses his gratitude to members of the Filipino Community, Department of Moselle and the Philippine Embassy in France for a hearty lunch after a Holy Mass on Sunday in Metz. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — NINE days after arriving in Metz and 21 days before the opening ceremony and the Filipino athletes on their final preps for Paris are making full use of the privilege no Team Philippines has ever experienced ahead of an Olympic participation.

"You can feel it in their eyes and you can see it in their actions," said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino on Monday night, referring to the enthusiasm and high spirits the eight of the 20 Paris Olympics-bound athletes have been showing at training camp.

No Philippine delegation arrived in earnest for an Olympic campaign until for these Paris Games—a brainchild of Tolentino under whose watch weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo won the country's first Olympic gold medal in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo 2020.

And with a lean and mean administrative team, Tolentino himself has to go hands-on for the athletes.

"It's like doing what a dad does to his family," said Tolentino, who along with secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan and training camp director Nico Huelgas, have become familiar faces with the staff of the local supermarket and stores where they do errands and marketing themselves at least once in four days for the athletes' needs.

"Tatay na tatay," said Tolentino, adding "but we won't forget to thank Him for all the reasons why we're here and for all the goals we have set in Paris."

The first Sunday in Metz saw the team attending Holy Mass at the St. Bernard Church with members of the Filipino Community, Department of Moselle and the Philippine Embassy in France.

"It's home away from home that makes our athletes feel better and all psyched up for the Olympics," Tolentino said.

At the training camp are weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, Elreen Ando and John Febuar Ceniza; boxers Aira Villegas, Hergie Bacyadan, Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio; and rower Joanie Delgaco.

World champion gymnast Carlos Yulo also hit town over the weekend and also due in Metz are his fellow gymnasts Levi Jung-Ruivivar, Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo, boxer Eumir Felix Marcial and fencer Samantha Catantan. TMT