SEN. Christopher “Bong” Go lauded the government’s effort to heed an earlier appeal to include in the priority list for Covid-19 vaccination Filipino athletes and other delegates who will be participating in the Tokyo Olympics and the Hanoi 31st Southeast Asian Games.
“I thank the government for heeding the appeal for the early vaccination of athletes,” Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, said. “They are competing for flag and country so it’s only right to shield them from the virus.”
Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino initiated the vaccine rollout last Friday for athletes bound for the Olympics set from July 23 to August 8 and the SEA Games scheduled November 21 to December 3.
Vietnam imposed a “no vaccine, no participation” policy in the SEA Games, where the Philippines is the defending champion.
Nine Filipinos have so far qualified for the Olympics. They are gymnast Carlos Yulo, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, rower Cris Nievarez, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, taekwondo jin Kurt Bryan Barbosa and boxers Eumir Felix Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Irish Magno.
The Philippines is fielding 626 athletes who will participate in 39 of the 40 sports in the Hanoi SEA Games.