Thomson, Webb amplify bid for Philippine Olympians benefits bill to aid struggling icons

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

As modern-day Filipino Olympians enjoy deserved riches, Olympic legends Akiko Thomson and Freddie Webb shine light on those who have fallen on hard times by promoting the benefits bill of swimming legend Representative Eric Buhain

MANILA, Philippines – The stars of Philippine sports were out and about in full glamor at the annual Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards Night last Monday, January 27, at the Manila Hotel, where the likes of Carlos Yulo and many other iconic Olympians were honored for their exploits.

With 2024 being the centennial year of the country’s participation in the Olympics, the PSA spared no effort in bringing together as many all-time Olympians as it possibly can, successfully bringing in legends from the 1968 Olympiad all the way to the Paris Games last year.

And with that many surviving Olympians, there are some bound to fall into hard times, a sad fact of life that 1972 basketball Olympian and former senator Freddie Webb wanted to highlight as keynote speaker of the entire Olympic delegation gathered at the venue on Monday night.

Alongside fellow legend and 1992 Olympian swimmer Akiko Thomson, Webb emphasized the need to ratify House Bill 3523, which aims to grant various benefits on areas like healthcare, retirement, and death, to all Filipino Olympians.

“At the forefront of this is [swimming legend] Congressman Eric Buhain, and this benefits bill will include all present and past Olympians, because it’s sad that some of them have gone poor and forgotten by time,” Webb said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“Does it mean that if you devote your time [to sports], after that, it’s goodbye? That is a bad dream for any athlete to have,” the 82-year-old legend said. “The dream of the athlete is to serve, but at the same time, the country will have to give compensation. I’ve said my piece. Thank you, all.”

Per Thomson, the president of the Philippine Olympic Association (POA), there have been 436 athletes who have competed in the Summer and Winter Olympics since 1924, and that the POA automatically recognizes all Olympians as members, no registration needed.

“It’s something we’re working on with Congressman Eric Buhain. It was passed [at the House] and we’re very happy because it’s proceeding,” Thomson said, after the bill was left in limbo since 2022.

The bill proposes that retired Olympians will have their insurance and hospitalization covered upon reaching the age of 50, and will also get 20% discount on necessities, transportation, and other services even before reaching 60.

Per HB 3523, the POA is in contact with more than 100 Olympians and are still in the process of establishing contact with other surviving Olympians in order to establish a working database, and hand out its promised benefits should the bill soon become law. – Rappler.com