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MICROSOFT Philippines has stepped up its campaign to
empower Filipino athletes competing in the 2008 Olympic
Games in Beijing through its Olympinoy campaign.
The
campaign is being staged in partnership with the
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and other companies
in the information-technology (IT) industry. It aims to
instill nationalism and encourage Filipinos from all
walks of life to rally behind the national team to be
sent to
Beijing.
Among
the athletes Microsoft Philippines is highlighting for
its campaign are divers Shiela Mae Perez and Rexel Ryan
Fabriga, archer Mark Javier, boxer Harry Tañamor and
taekwondo jins Mary Antonette Rivero and Tsomlee Go. The
athletes are featured in a limited-edition Gmask design
bearing their photos.
Divers Rexel Ryan Fabriga
and Sheila Mae Perez, jins Toni Rivero and Tsomlee Go,
boxer Harry Tañamor and archer Mark Javier are the
recipients of Microsoft’s ‘Olympinoy’ campaign.
Through
the campaign, consumers are given the opportunity to
support Filipino athletes with each purchase of any
Microsoft OEM-licensed product. A portion from each
purchase will go to a fund being built for the Olympian
who brings home a gold medal, or, if no golds are won,
for use as additional funding for the training and
development of future Filipino athletes and livelihood
assistance for former national athletes.
“Olympinoy has been running since March 30, and we are
extending it until June 30,” Microsoft
Philippines
managing director Rafael Rollan said.
“This is
our way of showing our commitment to these young men and
women who train hard to win honor and pride for our
country through their excellence in sports.”
Microsoft and global Olympic partner Lenovo is now
displaying the official Olympic torch in its concept
stores at the SM Mall of Asia, SM North Edsa, SM
Megamall and SM Cebu.
Lenovo
presented Perez a Windows-powered Lenovo Y410 notebook
PC during a press conference on Friday.
“Lenovo
is the Official Computing Equipment Provider for the
Beijing Games, providing more than 20,000 pieces of the
best-engineered computing equipment and 500 technicians
capable of supporting the complex and mission-critical
computing challenges demanded by such a monumental
global event.
“Similarly, in the Philippines, Lenovo is lending
support to local athletes participating in the Beijing
2008 Olympic Games, and we wish them success at the
Games,” Lenovo Philippines country manager for
transactional business Michael Ngan said.
“Other
countries have strong sports programs, which, in turn,
create stronger communities and stronger economies for
those countries. Olympinoy is a long-term investment
that seeks to eventually bring sports to even the
smallest people,” said Microsoft Philippines OEM
director Tep Misa.
Microsoft Philippines OEM marketing manager Ivan Franco
said: “We hope many other companies and people will
follow suit and help us support Filipino athletes and
encourage the growth of sports in the Philippines. We
support all Filipino athletes—we are just starting with
the Philippine team.”
Rollan
added that “all these efforts are geared towards showing
our athletes that they make us proud with what they do.
It’s our way of saying thank you for their continued
dedication and their resilience, which are both
characteristics of Filipino athletes that set them apart
from others.”
POC
treasurer Julian Camacho said the sports body sees in
the Olympinoy program a “great opportunity to gather
more support for our athletes.”
Camacho
also conveyed the message of POC president Jose “Peping”
Cojuangco that “any form of support for all our athletes
is always welcomed by the POC because our athletes do
more than play sports—with their hard work and
dedication, they bring honor to our nation.” |
