TV5 announces 'Road to Rio'

MANILA, Philippines – TV5, the Philippines' premier sports channel, has recently launched "Road to Rio" after gaining the rights to broadcast most the 2016 Olympic Games slated from Aug. 5-21 in Rio de Janerio, Brazil to the Philippine households.

"Being the official Olympics broadcast partner is the network's pride and an affirmation that TV5 is a true partner of the sports," said Sports5 head Patricia Bermudez-Hizon in Tuesday's press launch at the Jade Garden in Glorietta Mall, Makati City.

Hizon was joined by Phl Olympic Committee first vice president and the Phl team's chief of mission Joey Romasanta, POC representative to International Olympic Committee representative Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, POC honorary member Frank Elizalde and Cignal head of channel Sienna Olazo.

Bringing the Olympics to the Filipinos, according to Hizon, is an important event in showcasing the value of sports as part of nation-building as is the belief of Mediaquest chairman Manny V. Pangilinan.

"As a group, we always believe in the value of sports in unifying the country in terms of sporting events and sports heroes," said Hizon. "To be chosen as the official broadcast partner of a major sporting event like the Rio Olympics is a privilege and honor."

Taekwondo jin Elaine Alora and table tennis' Ian Lariba, who have both qualified to compete in the quadrennial games, were also present in the event.

"We'll give it our best to make the country proud," said Lariba, a La Salle standout who is the first Filipino from table tennis who made it to the Olympics.

Alora and Lariba are two of the five Filipino athletes who have clinched Olympic berths with the other three being boxers Rogen Ladon and Charly Suarez and Fil-Am sprinter Eric Cray.

TV5 president and CEO Emmanuel Lorenzana, for his part, sent a video message encouraging Filipinos to support our Olympic-bound athletes.

"We encourage everybody to follow TV5 as we follow the Filipino athletes in their quest in the Rio Olympics," said Lorenzana.

Aside from its free channels, the Olympics will also be shown on Cignal as the official Phl Pay TV broadcaster, PLDT as official Phl online broadcaster and Smart as official Phl mobile broadcaster.

Olazo said the Olympic opening ceremony will be shown live on August 6 starting at 7 a.m. at TV5, AksyonTV, Hyper, Cignal and Sports5.ph.

Meanwhile, Hizon said TV5 will also be the host broadcaster of the Olympic basketball qualifiers the country will host this July.