More Sports
Team Pilipinas gets backing from SMART
InterAksyon.com/Joseph Agcaoili
Wireless leader Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) has reaffirmed its full support to the Philippine Olympic team joining the best athletes from around the world in this year’s biggest sports spectacle.
An official partner of the Philippine delegation in the 2012 London Olympics, Smart is rallying behind the Filipino athletes as the Olympic Games open July 27 in the UK capital.
PLDT and SMART Chairman and sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan is leading the group in backing the country’s bets.
“All the best to our Filipino athletes who are keeping our dream of an Olympic gold alive,” said Pangilinan in a send-off statement. “When you fight for our country, the whole country will be fighting with you. May you inspire the whole nation by showing the Filipino’s greatness to the world,” he added.
SMART has been a long-time partner and supporter of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), the organization duly recognized by the International Olympic Committee as having the sole authority for representation of the Philippines in the Olympic Games.
Through its SMART Sports program, the telco is working with POC and the Philippine Sports Commission, among others, to help boost sports development, both grassroots and elite.
SMART has also supported various National Sports Associations (NSAs) in the Philippines to help discover talents, uplift athletes and promote sports where Filipinos show huge potential like boxing, basketball, football, cycling, taekwondo, tennis and more.
For the 2012 Olympics, SMART has reinvigorated its support to the POC, sealing its commitment with Philippine Olympic team chief of mission Manny Lopez before the Philippine squad headed to London.
The Philippines 2012 Olympic team is composed of Mark Javier and Rachelle Cabral for Archery, Rene Herrera and Marestella Torres for Athletics, Mark Barriga for Boxing, Daniel Caluag for BMX, Tomohiko Hoshina for Judo, Brian Rosario for Shooting, Jessie Lacuna and Jasmine Alkhaldi for Swimming and Hidilyn Diaz for Weightlifting.
SMART Chief Wireless Advisor Orlando B. Vea has also expressed his support and high hopes for the Philippine athletes.
“Our hopes and dreams, our cheers and prayers are with you in our country’s continuing quest for Olympic gold,” he said.
The London 2012 Olympics opening will be aired live on July 28 starting at 3:30 a.m. on TV5. Coverage of the various events will be aired on TV5, Aksyon TV, HYPER and AKTV.
