The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will celebrate Olympic Day on Friday with a traditional run at the University of the Philippines (UP) Track and Field Oval in Quezon City. A ceremonial turnover of cash incentives from the POC to the medalists of the recent Cambodia Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) will also be held during the celebration. POC president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino will lead the ceremony held annually to commemorate the founding of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by Baron Pierre de Coubertin on June 23, 1894. Joining Tolentino are members of the Philippine Olympian Association led by its president Akiko Thomson and Stephen Fernandez, as well as representatives from the Special Olympics Philippines. A 15-minute zumba program by the Special Olympics athletes and a ceremonial walk and run around the new oval will also be held during the Olympic Day celebration. Tolentino will proceed with the ceremonial turnover of checks to medalist athletes –representing individual, doubles and team sports. The Philippines took home 58 gold, 86 silver, and 116 bronze medals to finish fifth in the 32nd SEA Games held in Cambodia. UP College of Human Kinetics Dean Francis Carlos ‘Kiko’ Diaz and POC deputy secretary-general Karen Tanchanco-Cabellero will close the ceremony
Source: Philippines News Agency