PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. did an unprecedented in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday afternoon by putting premium on sports especially on the campaign of 28 Filipino athletes in Paris — 22 for the Olympics and six for the Paralympics — that open this Friday in the French capital.

“Thank you, PBBM, for your kind wishes for the athletes at the Olympics,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

“It’s definitely inspiring and it’s an extreme boost to the morale not only to our athletes competing in Paris, but to the entire Philippine sports,” added Tolentino, who will fly to Paris today (Tuesday July 23) to oversee the Philippine Olympic campaign.

“This may be exaggerated but the President putting emphasis on sports in a very important event in his administration—something that’s never been done by past Presidents in memory— gives us the goose bumps,” added Tolentino, who, as POC head, personally suggested to Malacañang for the President Marcos to include the sports agenda in his SONA.

“As we speak, 28 of our finest athletes are competing in Paris now for the glory of the Philippines,” said President Marcos, drawing appreciation through a rousing clap from his audience. “Let us wish them well and the best of luck.”

It’s not only the Paris Olympics campaign that was in President Marcos’s SONA, but also grassroots sports.

“Grassroots and sports of all programs are back, nailunsad na namin ang Palarong Pambansa after three years na pagkakatigil nito dahil sa pandemya,” he said.

“Binabati natin ang Cebu at Marikina at ang Kagawaran ng Education para sa matagumpay na pagkakatanghal ng mga palarong ito.”

President Marcos added: “We will continue to support these health enhancing sports programs. Through these, we will also set forth our youth on the same well-established path taken by some of our national champions and renowned athletes to sporting greatness.”

President Marcos, too, noted the sports’ importance in tourism.

“The focus now is on experiential tourism—foods, heritage, culture, the arts, education, Halal, Islamic traditions, education, dive, cruise, farm and eco-tourism and even sports have now become potent subjects and products of the nation’s tourism,” he said.

“We are very grateful to the President for showing his love and concern for sports,” Tolentino said.

“And we, at the POC and Philippine sports as a whole, continuously thank his Administration for relentlessly supporting sports through his financial support.”