To begin their month-long preparation in Metz for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the first batch of Filipino Olympians have landed safely in France.
Filipino boxers Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas, Carlo Paalam, and Hergie Bacyadan, weightlifters John Ceniza, Elreen Ando, and Vanessa Sarno, and rower Joanie Delgaco are included in the first batch of the Philippine Centennial Team who arrived in France Sunday, June 23, for their month-long training program in Metz in preparation for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
The Olympians felt the warm embrace of home in the heart of France after being welcomed by the Filipino community straight from the airport.
Philippine Ambassador to France Junever Mahilum-West shared that a heartwarming salu-salo with the Filipino community awaits the Philippine team before springing into training.
“They’re very excited, and in fact, some of them are here. Some of the associations are represented. We’ll see if we could [also] make arrangements because we have scheduled certain activities in La Moselle, where the delegation is going to train. There is a mass later on and salu-salo, and we also have members of the Filipino community there,” Ambassador Mahilum-West stated.
In an earlier interview before their departure from Manila, rower Joanie Delgaco said that she’s confident that she can adjust to different time zones and weather conditions in Paris.
“Meron talagang adjustments, pero mga ilang araw lang. Makaka-adjust din naman po ako,” she said.
Meanwhile, two-time Olympian and Paris 2024 flag-bearer Nesthy Petecio expressed her desire to bring home Olympic glory from France.
“Para sa bayan."
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(With reports from Ian Suyu, Denise Tan, and Nic Earnshaw.)