All Filipino athletes qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics will be staying in Metz for a month-long training camp for better acclimatization. All they need now is a Pinoy chef in France.
Wanted: Filipino cook in France.
Team Philippines will have an easier way of getting used to the French environment, after the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and Cignal TV forged a partnership for a month-long training camp in Metz in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The city is in France's northeast Grand Est region, where it would take roughly an hour and 30 minutes by train to reach Paris.
The POC says having all the athletes together for this period would help with the acclimatization for the weather and the time zone. The Philippines is ahead by six hours compared to France.
"So malaking difference especially kung andun sila. Avoiding jet lags, avoid unnecessary delays," said Atty. Wharton Chan, POC secretary general. "Definitely, 'yung bonding or tulungan when it comes to mental health, emotional, as well as 'yung strong mindset will come as a huge role in this training camp."
The plan for a training camp was plotted as early as two years ago, while the contract was signed last year. POC President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino explained that there were plenty of areas which offered to stage training grounds, but they were able to take what was offered in Metz.
"Malaking pasasalamat ng POC, this will be bankrolled by Cignal. So thank you very much, Cignal, for being our partner in this 100 years na pakikipaglaban sa Olympics," Tolentino said.
The training camp would ensure that Filipino athletes would be isolated from other countries' competitors, while ensuring venues follow Olympic standards. There would even be sparring partners for competitions which would require them.
Nutritionists and physical therapists of all the qualified national sports associations would be invited.
"Even the entire kitchen will be given to us," Tolentino added. "We're still looking for a chef or cook. Mas cheaper na Pinoy na nasa France."
Typically, athletes who have finished their competition would have to leave the Olympic village. But the Metz camp would allow Filipinos to stay a little longer after their event.
This isn’t just any other Olympics for the Philippines as this also marks 100 years of participation for the country in the quadrennial meet.
Runner David Nepomuceno was the first Filipino to qualify for the Olympics, participating in the 1924 Paris Games.
Now, Team Philippines has at least nine with pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan, boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, and Aira Villegas, as well as weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, John Ceniza, and Elreen Ando.
[ALSO READ: Cignal TV partners with POC to provide extensive coverage for PH athletes leading to Paris 2024]
Cignal TV would be covering all the Filipino athletes starting from the send-off on June 21, the entire training camp, and the results of the Olympic Games. All of these will be featured in a 13-part documentary series.
As for broadcast rights, Cignal TV is still conducting talks with Japanese company Dentsu.
"Right now, we are in the tail-end of our discussion with the official rights holder for the Olympics, which is Dentsu. We don't have the final agreement yet but we're trying our best--with the support of our chairman Manny V. Pangilinan--and the POC to secure the rights," said Cignal TV and MediaQuest President & CEO Jane J. Basas.
"Our objective is to put as many games, particularly the games where Filipinos are competing, in all available platforms," she added. "If successful ang pakikipag-usap with Dentsu, ang tinitignan namin is as many as 18 channels, bringing the most comprehensive coverage of the games."