Carlos Yulo (Photo courtesy of FIG)
MANILA – There is a possibility that the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) might hand a monetary reward to Carlos Yulo after winning two medals including a gold medal in the recently concluded FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championship in Kitakyushu, Japan.
PSC executive director Guillermo Iroy, however, clarified that this move is discretionary since the said event that took place over the weekend is not part of the global tournaments where the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Privileges Incentives Act would take effect.
“Walang amount pa kasi discretionary sa batas ng (There is no amount placed yet because it's discretionary to the laws of the) PSC Board. We will wait for the reports of GAP (Gymnastics Association of the Philippines) but based on reports by our staff it’s a yearly event. Chairman Butch (Ramirez) will just wait for the report of Ms. Cynthia Carrion-Norton,” Iroy said on Monday.
The law only rewards Filipino athletes who win in international events that do not take place annually like the biennial Southeast Asian Games and the quadrennial Olympics, excluding the FIG Worlds from the list.
The PSC, however, took an exception in 2019 when Yulo captured the historic floor gold in Stuttgart, in which he was given PHP1 million.
The FIG World Championship was canceled last year due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
The PSC, according to Iroy, will make a final decision once it receives the needed report from Carrion-Norton, but if it gets approved, it could be bigger than what Yulo received two years back.
"We’ll see what the board will approve but definitely since may silver siya, mataas din kaysa dati na (he has a silver, it's gonna be higher than before)," Iroy further said.
Despite losing in his bid for back-to-back floor golds, Yulo bounced back mightily by winning the gold in the vault competition and the silver in the parallel bars on Sunday.
In the Palace press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque congratulated Yulo, saying his brilliance in Kitakyushu epitomizes what the Filipinos can do in sports.
"Patunay ito ng galing ng ating atletang Pilipino (This proves the excellence of our Filipino athletes)," Roque said.
Members of the House of Representatives also congratulated Yulo's “stunning performance”.
“Huge congratulations to Carlos Edriel Yulo for his stunning performance at the 50th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan, winning gold and silver medals in the men’s vault and parallel bars events, respectively. Once again, you have hoisted the Philippine flag high. We are proud of you, Caloy. Mabuhay ang atletang Pinoy (Long live Filipino athletes)!” House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said.
Deputy Speaker Eric Martinez said Yulo’s gold medal win would be a confidence boost for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
"A bold prediction that Caloy will win multiple Olympic medals in Paris 2024!” Martinez said. (with reports from Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)
