BEIJING—President Arroyo proved true to her word and visited Team Philippines’ residential unit Sunday afternoon at the posh Olympic Village.

And surprise of all surprises, the President committed P15 million to the first Filipino who will win a gold medal in wushu.

That was according to wushu federation president Julian Camacho, who is also the treasurer of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

“The President asked me if wushu has a chance at the gold medal and I said it has,” Camacho told the BusinessMirror. “Then she told me na ipapareho na rin ang incentive para sa gold medal.”

Wushu is a special sport in the Beijing Olympics, meaning a gold, silver and a bronze medal will be awarded. These medals, however, will not count in the official Olympic tally.

The Philippines has four bets in wushu—Willy Wang, Benjie Rivera, Mary Jane Estimar and Marianne Mariano.

Chief of mission Monico Puentevella, however, was surprised with the President’s commitment for a P15-million reward.

“I don’t have any knowledge about it, but I don’t think so. It’s too much,” he said.

The first Filipino gold medalist competing in a sport on the regular Olympic program is bound to receive a cash windfall of P15 million—P5 million as mandated by law, P5 million from President Arroyo’s fund, P1 million each from Lucio Tan, Reghis and Mikee Romero, Manny Pacquiao, sportswear maker Accel and P500,000 from the Philippine Sportswriters Association. A brand-new Toyota Vios will also be given to the gold medalist.

The President stayed for almost an hour in the village, according to Team Philippines secretariat administrator Moying Martelino. She toured the athletes’ rooms at the condominium-type residential unit, the offices and the clinic.

“She gave the athletes words of encouragement,” said Martelino. Only the swimmers were not around when the President visited because they were training at the Water Cube. Her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo also visited the village.

After visiting the village, the President and company went on to watch the United States team of National Basketball Association stars annihilate the Chinese in men’s basketball. The presidential entourage returned to Manila on a chartered flight also Sunday night.

Bets hope to add gold to RP’s 9 Olympic medals

BEIJING—The 29th edition of the Olympics here marks the 19th time the Philippines has participated in the quadrennial Games. But since Paris in 1924, Filipino athletes could only bring home a total nine medals, none of them gold.

A Modest Goal

BEIJING—Miguel Molina competes in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke heats in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Tuesday night with a modest goal of breaking his own national record.

Canada’s best a Filipino

BEIJING—Mark Javier is the Philippines’ lone representative in the 2008 Beijing Olympics archery competitions, but he is not the only full-blooded Filipino here.

Harry hardly knows foe from Ghana

BEIJING—Harry Tañamor had his routine afternoon nap after his prelunch workout Monday, two days before he steps into the ring against a foe from Ghana he hardly knows.

GMA pledges $15m for wushu gold, too

BEIJING—President Arroyo proved true to her word and visited Team Philippines’ residential unit Sunday afternoon at the posh Olympic Village.

Age a plus for shooter Ang

BEIJING—All is not lost for Eric Ang, the country’s lone representative in shooting in the Beijing 2008 Olympics, who finished dead last in the men’s individual trap Sunday.

American massages Olympians’ pains away

BEIJING—Long-jumper Henry Dagmil grimaced as Todd Reiter worked on an old injury in the Filipino’s shoulder.

Todd who?

A Billion Do Care

BEIJING—Yao Ming hit a rare three-pointer Sunday to open the most watched basketball game in recorded history—East or West—and the earth moved.

Two real Olympic heroines

BEIJING—Someone ought to inform Michael Phelps that no matter how many gold medals he wins, no matter how many records he obliterates or primal screams he unleashes, he cannot emerge as the hero of the 2008 Olympics.

Tough Turf: IOC must set simple Olympics opening

THAT spectacular opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympics on August 8 really thrilled the whole world no end.

From the opening presentation up to the staging of the magnificent fireworks display, millions of viewers were kept hanging by the edge of their seats, waiting on what would come next.