Philippine president to visit China quake victims

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-05 22:47

The Chinese business group said that it expected Arroyo's visit to lure more investments to the Philippines with the scheduled business meetings between the Philippine delegation and Chinese businessmen.

The president's office said after the Sichuan visit Arroyo will fly to Beijing on Thursday afternoon and fete the 15 Filipino athletes participating in the Beijing Olympic Games. Presidential Management Staff Chief Secretary Cerge Remonde said at a Tuesday's press briefing that that the President's attendance in the opening of Olympics is part of her official obligation as one of the 80 heads of state invited to the event.

Arroyo will end her three-day visit on Saturday after touring the Olympic Village and meeting with the Filipino community in Beijing.

The Philippines has not yet won an Olympic gold during its participation in the Games since 1924. The last time the Philippines got a medal was in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

The country's 15 athletes to Beijing will compete in boxing, taekwondo, shooting, archery, diving, swimming, athletics and weight-lifting. Boxer Harry Tanamor and taekwondist Mary Antoinette Rivero are considered the country's best chances to bag a goal in Beijing.

The administration has just raised the Olympic incentive to 15 million pesos (US$340,909) for any Filipino athlete who gets a gold medal in Beijing.

Gracing part of the 37-member Beijing-bound Philippine Olympic delegation to Beijing in the presidential palace for a send-off party last Friday, Arroyo said the government has decided to set aside an additional 4.5 million pesos (US$102,272) as Olympic bonus to lure the country's first Olympic gold. " Congratulations and good luck, but the important thing is for you to win," Arroyo said.

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