IOC impressed with multi-purpose activity centers in Leyte

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr. (left), IOC representative Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski (second from left), and POC project director Tom Carrasco (right) visit one of the multi-purpose activity centers in Leyte on Wednesday (December 6, 2017). (Photo by Judith Caringal/PNA)

MANILA — The International Olympic Committee (POC) has commended the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) for building three multi-purpose activity centers in areas affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda in Leyte.

The construction of the three facilities, through Gawad Kalinga, was funded by the USD450,000 donation from the IOC, Olympic Council of Asia, and Olympic Solidarity.

In an interview with Radyo Pilipinas on Thursday, IOC representative to the Philippines Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski said the IOC was impressed with the facilities that would benefit families in Palo, Albuera and Alangalang municipalities.

“They asked me when I was in Lausanne, they thought we could build just one or two centers. So they were impressed that there are three,” said Cojuangco, who attended the inauguration of the centers last Wednesday. She was accompanied by her father, POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr., and project director Tom Carrasco.

Carrasco, who also serves as secretary general of the triathlon association, bared plans to conduct clinics and demonstrations of different sports suited for the GK communities next year.

“Na-control natin ang production cost, pinag-uusapan na ang tungkol sa sustainable program, yung clinics, demos o anuman na puwedeng makatulong para may ma-develop mula sa facilities, pati differently-abled athletes (We were able to control the production cost. We are discussing a sustainable program, such as clinics, demonstrations or anything that would help develop athletes, including differently-abled ones),” said Carrasco.

Meanwhile, Cojuangco has suggested building a swimming pool in another area in Leyte to discover future national athletes.