On Tuesday, Felix Diaz (gold medal - boxing) and Yulis Gabriel Mercedes (silver medal - taekwondo) were hailed as conquering heroes upon returning to the Dominican Republic. As the island was just getting over the remnants of a tropical storm, I didn't think too many people would turn out. I was wrong. Several thousand showed up at the airport to greet them. Many more cheered in the rain along the route. (More photos here.)
Many countries are offering money and incentives to their athletes for winning medals at the Olympics. The Dominican Republic is no exception. Felix Diaz is reportedly getting RD$5,000,000 pesos ($150,000 U.S.), an apartment and a S.U.V.
Congratulations!
Many countries are offering money and incentives to their athletes for winning medals at the Olympics. The Dominican Republic is no exception. Felix Diaz is reportedly getting RD$5,000,000 pesos ($150,000 U.S.), an apartment and a S.U.V.
Congratulations!
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6 comments:
Anthony,
We were in the airport to return on Tuesday, and the roar when Felix arrived stopped everything! They are truly proud of him.
Basil
They're flippin out over 1 Gold, and 1 Silver medal?!!? That aint NOTHING! I mean damn what would they do if they'd won 5 Gold Medals...Them folks might just spontaniously combust!
To the Hater who posted re: what they would have done had they won 5 medals. Imagine what we will do when you learn how to spell?
30 nations got fewer medals, among them Chile, the land of Neruda, Gabriela Mistral and many other great figures of Latin American culture, which got one medal (silver in tennis) and you should have seen the celebration. I don't particularly care for the proto-fascistic nationalism fostered by the Olympics, and I didn't watch any of these particular games because the Chinese scare me (not their wondrous culture, but that government which combines the worst of capitalism and totalitarianism) but of all the forms of pride a country can have in sports, having an Olympic medalist can still be one of the healthiest reasons to have pride.
Ramon Figueroa
Jackson, Mississippi
anonymous 2:54...what is your problem...there is nothing wrong with having pride in your country ....1 medal or 50 medals.......
to 2:54 pm , why would you have the gall(or Whomever) to say such a thing.All countrys would be proud to have won a gold at the Olynpics and if I am correct they won two medals,a gold and silver.I think it was great they all showed up at the airport to welcome there hero's back home, shows great country pride.It only takes one silly A_ _ queen to show there ingorance(sp).
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