Tycoon Enrique Razon to provide COVID-19 vaccines for Olympic-bound athletes

The likes of Caloy Yulo are now assured of COVID-19 vaccination ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. Jade Moya (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—The most important health concern right now of the Philippine athletes heading or hoping to make it to the Tokyo Olympics has now been alleviated.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino confirmed on Tuesday that businessman Enrique Razon Jr. will provide the COVID-19 vaccines for the Olympic-bound national team.

According to the current Cavite congressman, Razon, the chairman of International Container Terminal Services Inc. and casino operator Bloomberry Resorts, met with him earlier in the day to assure his commitment to inoculate the Tokyo-bound athletes with the vaccine.

“We would like to thank Mr. Enrique Razon for providing our Olympics-bound athletes with vaccines,” Tolentino said. “Rest assured, our athletes would be protected from the virus as they escalate their training and preparation for Tokyo.”

Razon, who is also the chairman of the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., which organizes the Philippine Golf Tour, previously said that he will buy 20 million doses of Moderna vaccines.

With the likes of EJ Obiena, Caloy Yulo, Eumir Marcial, and Irish Magno, the four Filipinos already qualified for the Olympics, included in Razon's commitment, Tolentino heaved a sigh of relief.

“I’m sure that with the generosity of Mr. Razon, especially in these difficult times, would further spur our athletes to focus on the Olympics without fear of getting infected,” he further said.

Meanwhile, Tolentino believes that the time has arrived for the Philippines to finally capture the elusive Olympic gold.

“The time is now,” said Tolentino. “I believe that we are in the best position to win that Olympic gold—not one, but more.”

He also believes that the Tokyo Olympics will push amid the pandemic which is worsened by the arrival of the more infectious COVID-19 variants.

“I am a positive person. The Olympics will happen, the International Olympic Committee, and the host country [Japan] will make it happen,” Tolentino said.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno