POC gets breakthrough award

The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) has bestowed the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) the Breakthrough NOC Award for winning its first Olympic gold medal through weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz in the Tokyo Games in July.

POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino received the award online during the ceremonies held in Heraklion, Greece, on Sunday.

“The POC is honored to receive this award from the ANOC. It’s been almost a century or after 22 Olympics that we finally won our first Olympic gold medal,” said Tolentino as he cited Diaz, silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam and bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial for their remarkable performances in Tokyo.

“This award is not only for the POC, but for the entire country and the 15 other Filipino athletes who gallantly competed in the Tokyo Olympics.”

The annual ANOC Awards were first held for the first time in Bangkok in 2014.

The event was created in order to recognize and honor the achievements of the NOC and their athletes as well as distinguished members of the Olympic Family.

Also receiving the award for winning their first Olympic gold medals were Bermuda (women’s triathlon) and Qatar (weightlifting).

Burkina Faso, San Marino and Turkmenistan were also recognized for clinching their first ever medals at the Tokyo Olympics.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach, Greek Culture and Sports Minister Lefteris Avgenakis and representatives from the IOC, NOC, international federations and other Olympic stakeholders attended the awards.

The ANOC also conducted its general assembly where officials from the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing made a presentation.