MANILA, Philippines – A P1 million cash prize awaits Filipino athletes who bag a gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games.
Siklab Atleta Pilipinas Sports Foundation has offered a reward to top Filipino performers in a bid "to motivate and inspire" them in the continental meet in Indonesia.
The private organization will also give P500,000 to silver medalists and P250,000 to bronze medalists. (LIVE UPDATES and MEDAL TALLY: 2018 Asian Games)
"We want to help fuel the country’s dream of global recognition in sports. Through this incentive, we hope to motivate and inspire our athletes to excel and bring pride to our country,” said Siklab Atleta chairman and Presidential Adviser on Sports Dennis Uy.
Siklab Atleta is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the private sector that aims to help the Philippines in its quest for a first Olympic gold.
Through a pool of funds gathered from private sponsors, Siklab Atleta has pledged to provide the country’s best athletes with training equipment and facilities, coaching, exposure to international competitions, education, housing, and livelihood programs.
“To our athletes, your hard work and determination to excel despite adversities is an inspiration to your fellow Filipinos. You can count on the support of Siklab as you represent the best of our country to the world,” Uy said.
The organization is backed by the country’s largest corporations such as SM Investments Corp., Belle Resources, RFM Corporation, Alaska Corporation, Tanduay Distillery, JG Summit, Megawide Construction, International Container Terminal Services, San Miguel Corporation, PLDT, United Laboratories, Ulticon Builders, Phoenix Petroleum, 2GO, Megaworld, Robinsons Land, and Piatco.
“We are thankful to the private sector for supporting our athletes and Siklab’s vision of bringing pride and glory to our country through sports,” said Uy.
The Philippines' Asian Games campaign will be headed by 2016 Rio Olympic Games silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, who is also supported by Siklab Atleta. The country will field 272 athletes in 35 sports during the two-week event. – Rappler.com