Manila, Feb. 22 -- Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz is on a mission to make young Filipinos love and engage in sports, particularly weightlifting.

Diaz is touring Ilocos Norte to inspire and develop the next generation of athletes.

The country's first Olympic gold medalist recently met with officials of the Department of Education to advocate weightlifting to be included as a regular event in the Palarong Pambansa, rather than just a demonstration sport.

"We really have to work on spreading the sport by having events and to have education for technical officials and coaches," Diaz said in an interview on Friday, noting that the key to weightlifting education is to start from top to bottom.

She said only 10 regions and not all schoo...