POC receives 'Breakthrough NOC' award from ANOC for Hidilyn Diaz' historic Olympic gold

The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) has handed the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) with the Breakthrough NOC Award for winning its first Olympic gold medal through weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz.

Diaz topped the women's 55-kg weightlifting event of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics last July at the Tokyo International Forum to deliver the country's first-ever golden mint.

POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino received the recognition virtually during the ceremonies held in Heraklion, Greece on Sunday.

“The POC is honored to receive this award from the ANOC. It’s been almost a century or after 22 Olympics that we finally won our first Olympic gold medal,” said Tolentino.

“This award is not only for the POC, but for the entire country and the 15 other Filipino athletes who gallantly competed in the Tokyo Olympics."

The ANOC Awards were held for the first time in Bangkok in 2014 and have been held every year since then. It was created in order to recognize and honor the remarkable achievements of NOCs and their athletes.

—JMB, GMA News