Sports
Hidilyn Diaz calls for financial support for Tokyo 2020 Olympics on social media
FILE: “It was once a dream that turned into reality. This was the best moment in my life that I won’t forget. And I thank God for using me as an instrument to say that there’s nothing impossible with God.
” (Photo: @hidilyndiaz/Instagram)
Twenty-eight-year-old Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who made waves in 2016 for ending the country’s 20-year Olympic medal drought after winning the silver in the women’s 53-kg weight division at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, took to her social media last Monday, June 3 to ask for financial support in the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
On her Instagram stories targeted to her more than 20,000 followers, the athlete revealed she is “having a really hard time already,” stating, “Do you think it’s okay, because I’m embarrassed to ask, but I’ll try to work up my courage to achieve my goal for our country to bring home a gold medal from the Olympics.”
One of the early respondents to Diaz’s post was Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, who told the press that “the government has (actually) been very supportive,” stating, “Hidilyn receives support from the PSC and the Philippine Air Force being an enlisted personnel.”
Ramirez specified that in 2019 alone, the PSC has shelled out a total of P4.5 million for Diaz’s foreign training in Hainan and Guangxi, China. They also pay her foreign coach Julius Kaiwen Gao through monthly salary and food allowance beyond that budget.
In addition, the organization has aided the Zamboanga native in rebuilding her training facility in the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC).
The PSC Chairman clarified, “I do not think government was remiss of its support to Hidilyn. Despite what it seems, we at the PSC choose to see her for what she is, a champion we will support on her dream to achieve more,” adding, “It would be good for Hidilyn to visit us so we could talk and clarify matters.”
Diaz has been training for the World Weightlifting Championship that will be happening this upcoming September. Winning that competition will entitle the Filipina star to qualify for the prestigious international games in Tokyo next year.
