Philippines offers $220K for country's 1st Oly gold

MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- 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 gold has eluded the Philippines since 1924, when it first attended the Olympic games in Paris. The last medal it won was a silver in boxing in Atlanta in 1996. Philippine Olympic Committee spokesman Joey Romasanta says the money will go to the first gold winner. But he says it is not the first time a reward has been offered. He said Friday the government has pledged $116,000 and the rest were donations from... [read full story]