Groups pledge $480,000 to rehabilitate Yolanda-ravaged sports facilities

MANILA, Philippines – Various sports groups have pledged a total of $480,000 (P21,120,000) in cash donations to rehabilitate sports facilities in areas of the Philippines devastated by super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) last November.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), Olympic Solidarity Program and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) gave an equal share of $150,000 while the Japan Olympic Committee pledged $30,000 to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah of Kuwait made the announcement in the presence of International Olympic Committee vice president John Coates of Australia during the final day of the 32nd OCA general assembly on Sunday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

IOC President Thomas Bach of Germany, in a letter addressed to POC head Jose Cojuangco Jr., sympathized with the thousands of victims by the super typhoon, which hit a huge part of Eastern Visayas on November 8.

“It is with great shock that we have witnessed the appalling devastation in your country caused by the passage of typhoon [Yolanda] and we would first and foremost like to express our sympathy to you and the people of the Philippines,” said Bach.

“We realize the magnitude of the needs of your NOC and indeed your country as a whole are of towering proportions.”

Part of the money will also be used to purchase sports equipment.

IOC Representative to the Philippines Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, who is POC head Jose Cojuangco Jr.’s daughter, will oversee the POC’s implementation of the projects.

Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, an equestrian who won a gold medal in show jumping at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, was elected to the IOC in September.

“These people are all capable of helping. All that was needed was to explain to them where the money will go, who will handle the money and how it will be spent,” Cojuangco said.

“That is why it was such a privilege for us to host this event,” said the POC chief.

“These people are all capable of helping. All that was needed was to explain to them where the money will go, who will handle the money and how it will be spent,” he said. – Rappler.com