The International Olympic Committee has granted world’s number 5 pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena an Olympic Solidarity scholarship (OSS) of $843 or P43,000 a month until the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Aside from Obiena, eight other Filipino athletes also got the scholarship program namely Rianne Malixi (golf), Samantha Catantan (fencing), Patrick Coo (cycling), Aira Villegas (boxing), Jericho Francisco (skateboarding), Allen Arcilla (wrestling), and Tokyo Olympians Elreen Ando (weightlifting) and Rogen Ladon (boxing).
All the athlete-recipients were recommended by their respective national sports associations except for Obiena who has a run-in with the Philippine Athletics Track And Field Association (Patafa) who was referred by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
“The POC wishes to congratulate these nine promising athletes for earning scholarships as they focus on their qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics. This is the first time that our country had such number of scholars,” POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said.
The 9 OSS receivers will also have regular medical and scientific assistance, insurance for accident and illness, board and lodging allowance, pocket money, and travel costs for their participation in the Paris Games qualifiers and other related events for the quadrennial meet.
Other benefits such as access to suitable training facilities, a coach who specializes in their respective disciplines, will also be provided to the nine IOC OSS fellows. – Report from Khay Asuncion/ ML-ag
