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Rains welcome Filipino Olympians in London
InterAksyon.com/Joseph Agcaoili
ILOILO CITY — Rene Hererra, the country’s bet in the 5,000 meter-run event in the 2012 London Olympics set to open in colorful ceremonies a week from now, told close kin from his home town in Guimaras Island that continual rains have reduced the games venue into a soggy spectacle and sometimes racetracks splattered by mud, making practice time difficult and uncomfortable for many athletes coming from all corners of the world.
Hererra, one of only 11 Filipinos sent to compete in this year’s Olympics, assured his countrymen however, that the nasty weather will not hinder his performance in his favorite event where he had emerged back to back champion in past SEA Games.
He lamented, though, the food served to them at the hotel where the puny Philippine delegation is staying, which consists mostly of meat products and no rice, the latter being the Asian staple food. But the Filipinos are hopeful that this will change once they are billeted in the Olympic Village.
On opening day on July 27, the Filipino players will be wearing the national attire which is the barong during the traditional cavalcade of athletes.
