In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, China's basketball player Yao Ming, wearing red jacket at right, clenches his fist as he recites a pledge to "play with honor" together with other members of the Chinese Olympic delegation in Beijing Friday, July 25, 2008. China unveiled its largest team of 639 athletes Friday for the Beijing Olympics, a squad many expect will dislodge the United States from the top of the medal table.
(AP Photo/Xinhua, Zhao Peng)
Philippines offers $220,000 for 1st gold
In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, China's basketball player Yao Ming, wearing red jacket at right, clenches his fist as he recites a pledge to "play with honor" together with other members of the Chinese Olympic delegation in Beijing Friday, July 25, 2008. China unveiled its largest team of 639 athletes Friday for the Beijing Olympics, a squad many expect will dislodge the United States from the top of the medal table.
(AP Photo/Xinhua, Zhao Peng)
MANILA, Philippines—An official says the Philippine government and the private sector are offering $220,000 to any athlete who brings home the country's first-ever Olympic gold medal.
The Philippines has not won an Olympic gold since its first games, at Paris in 1924. The most recent medal of any color was silver in boxing in Atlanta in 1996.
"This is an incentive. The first gold winner will get the money," said Philippine Olympic Committee spokesman Joey Romasanta on Friday.
The government pledged $116,000 and the rest came from donations from the private sector, Romasanta said.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported other donors included tycoon Lucio Tan, 
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