Philippines will pay for gold

MANILA » 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.

The offer presents an opportunity for two Hawaii swimmers. Christel Simms of Ewa Beach and Dan Coakley of Kohala are on the Philippine Olympic team.