POC, kinilala sa Olympic movement

PINATIBAY ng Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) ang bigkis ng ugnayan sa International Olympic Committee matapos ang pagbisita ng top sports officials ng bansa kamakailan sa IOC headquarters sa Lausanne, Switzerland.

Nakipagpulong kay IOC President Thomas Back sina POC President Ricky Vargas at secretary-general Pato Gregorio, kasama si Philippine Representative to IOC Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski.

Nakapulong din ng Pinoy sports officials ang ilang matatas na opisyal ng pinakamalaking sports body sa mundo, kabilang sina Jerome Polvey ((Head of Institutional Relations and Governance & NOC Relations), Olivier Niamkey (Head of Athletes Unit & Relations with OCA and Asian NOCs) at IOC Director General Pere Miro.

Sa dalawang araw na pagbisita, binigyan ng pahapyaw na kaalaman ng IOC Sports Department ang delegasyon ng bansa hingil sa aspeto ng Athletes Commission, Athletes Entourage Commission, Games Management Dept., at Sports and Active Society Commission. Nabigyan din sila ng pagkakataon na mabisita at malibot ang Olympic Museum.

“He gave me a lot of pointers, foremost of which was to enjoy my job. He also talked of the values of collaboration, getting engaged, friendship and building relations,” pahayag ni Vargas, patungkol sa mainit na pagtanggap sa kanila ni Bach, isang German lawyer at Olympian fencer.

Ikinalugod at naging inspirado ang POC chief na isaayos ang Olympic body sa bansa at mabigyan ng solosyon ang mga suliraning naiwan ng dating lider, kabilang ang gusot sa ilang National Sports Association (NSA).

“What really impressed me most in the museum were the clarity of vision and the reason of the Olympic movement. And it is remarkable that it continues to be relevant and a vital contributor in the development of political relationships among the countries of the world,” pahayag ni Vargas.

Naibahagi rin umano ni Vargas kay Bach ang matagal nang pinapangarap ng Pilipinas na magwagi ng unang gintong medalya sa Olympics at mapabilang sa marka ng IOC. Ipinahayag naman umano ni Back na ang Pilipinas ay ‘vital partner in the Olympic movement.”

Sinabi naman ni Gregorio na kabisado at nasusundan ng IOC officials, partikular si Polvey na isang lawyer ang kaganapan sa POC. Nagbigay din umano ito ng ideya hingil sa aspeto ng “responsible autonomy, NOC governance at national players rule.”

Naging malusog din ang usapan nina Vargas at Gregorio, president and vice-president ng Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP), kay Bach hingil sa nagaganap na pagbabago sa AIBA, ang international boxing federation sa boxing.

“Mr. Bach says he is much concerned about issues on anti-doping, officials integrity and financial management in AIBA. He hopes these will be addressed soon so as not to jeopardize the inclusion of boxing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” pahayag ni Vargas.