Laban Pilipinas!

The country’s campaign to boost the morale of the Asian Games-bound Philippine Team officially started Sunday with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) organizing the Walk-A-Mile project.

The 2014 Asian Games are set from September 19 to October 4 in Incheon, South Korea. One hundred and 33 Filipino athletes have so far passed the criteria set by the joint POC-PSC Task Force.

Close to 500 participants joined POC and PSC officials, athletes, and coaches during the 1.6-mile walk—which is an awareness campaign to drumbeat support for Team Philippines—from Roxas Boulevard-Malate area to Luneta Park’s kilometer zero marker.

Iran’s Vahid Kardany, who represented Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Sabah of Kuwait, and Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee (IAGOC) media director Son Sangjin also graced the occasion.

POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr. said seeing the people who joined the Walk-A-Mile, supervised by PSC executive director Atty. Guillermo Iroy Jr. will boost Filipino athletes’ morale.

“Today’s event is not only for the athletes but for the Filipino people. Ang lakad natin ay hindi para sa sports lang kung hindi para sa Pilipinas at sa atletang Pinoy,” said Cojuangco.

PSC Chairman Ricardo Garcia, who is also the country’s Chef de Mission to the 17th Asiad, added the Task Force’s job is not that easy since they are tasked to select the best athletes that could win medals for the Philippines.

“Without the support of the POC officials and the NSAs hindi matutuloy itong project. Nandirito tayo lahat para sa suportahan ang campaign ng Team Philippines sa South Korea and to cheer them on so we could win more gold medals in Incheon.”

Kardany, meanwhile, wished for Team Philippines’ campaign in this year’s Asiad since the country was the first host of the Far East Asian Games in 1913, the precursor of the Asian Games.

“The Philippines has contributed a lot to sports and the Olympic movement. [In 1913] the Philippines was one of the best sports programs in Asia, 100 years back. We hope that through the athletes’ hard work and the help and support of your sports officials you get back to that level you have before,” Kardany said.

Sangjin added that he is hopeful the Asian Games, which is the biggest competition next to the Olympics, would unite the 4 billion people in the region.

“We are hoping the Asian Games becomes a venue for peace and harmony in the region. The Philippines and the other participating nations will receive the best ever welcome in Incheon.”

Sunday’s Walk-A-Mile is the 25th event supported by OCA and the IAGOC to create awareness of the Asian Games in the other participating countries. A similar event will be held in Brunei and Japan next month.

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