WORK began in earnest at the Team Philippines training camp in Metz, France, on Sunday, with POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Chef de Mission Jonvic Remulla leading the activities at the all-in facility. The training camp is designed to prepare Filipino athletes for the upcoming Olympics.

“It’s all systems go here at La Moselle,” said Tolentino, adding, “and the morale of the team is very high.”

This marks the first time the POC is conducting a training camp for Olympic athletes a month before the competition—the Paris Olympics will start on July 26.

“The first batch of athletes that flew in with us last Saturday morning are amazed with the facility and are eager to wind up their training for their respective events at the Olympics,” Tolentino said. He, along with Remulla, met with Team Philippines in Metz on Sunday.

“The athletes are excited and enthusiastic about this training camp. The main objective is to ensure our athletes are in top shape for the competitions,” Remulla added.

The first batch of the 15 Filipino athletes qualified for the Olympics includes weightlifters Vanessa Sarno and Elreen Ando, boxers Aira Villegas, Hergie Bacyadan, Carlo Paalam, and Nesthy Petecio, rower Joanie Delgaco, and weightlifter John Febuar Ceniza.

They are accompanied by secretary-general Wharton Chan, along with coaches, trainers, and a small POC staff who set up the facility ahead of the team’s arrival and will remain in France for the entire duration of the Games, which end on August 11.

Expected to arrive in Metz in the coming days are boxer Eumir Felix Marcial, fencer Samantha Catantan, and gymnasts Carlos Yulo, Emma Malabuyo, and Levi Ruivivar.

Tolentino mentioned that Team Philippines is expected to surpass the 20-athlete mark, with more qualifiers anticipated in athletics, golf, and swimming. The international federations for these sports will announce the official qualifiers for the Olympics this week.

“The Paris campaign is now in full throttle,” he stated.

In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo won the country’s first-ever gold medal, while Paalam and Petecio each brought home a silver medal, and Marcial secured a bronze, marking the Philippines’ best finish in the most prestigious quadrennial event.