PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino has apparently found an ally in newly-elected International Olympic Committee Executive Board member Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski as he pushes for key amendments to the POC charter in time for the POC polls in November.
Cojuangco-Jaworksi stressed the issue was urgent because “the IOC is expecting that whatever the amendments (that are going to be made to the POC charter) are already going to be practiced during the November election. The goal was to finish it before the end of 2020 para this year enforced na siya.”
She said the world Olympic body notified the POC on the issue of charter change shortly after Tolentino was elected as the new POC president in snap polls held in July 2019.
Tolentino succeeded boxing chief Ricky Vargas, who stepped down, citing work and personal reasons.
“Sinabi na ng IOC na kailangan na i-amend ang constitution and by-laws after Bambol was elected. This letter was sent directly to the POC and copy furnished to me. The goal of the IOC was last year pa nga (on amending the POC charter),” added the IOC representative to the Philippines.
The 2002 Busan Asian Games gold medalist shared her sentiments on the proposed amendment by the Tolentino camp to exclude POC officials 70 years old and above in running for POC posts.
This is opposed byPOC leaders such as gymnastics head Cynthia Carrion and POC first vice president Joey Romasanta, who are both over 70.
“The IOC does not impose any rules in conditions on the NOCS sa age cap, although the IOC itself has an age cap (for IOC Executive Board members). Most NOCs also already have an age cap,” Cojuangco-Jaworski pointed out.
“Some of the reasons for this are obvious like physical health and so that other (younger) sports leaders can serve in their respective National Olympic Committees,” she said. “But then you will also be giving up the wisdom and experience of certain individuals (if they are barred to run). It has to be a balancing act.
“What I am saying is that while the IOC does set an age cap for an NOC official in respect and recognition of its autonomy, the IOC also set an age limit for key posts, particularly with its Executive Board members.”
Cojuangco-Jaworski said the IOC noted that some of the major problems that have hounded the POC “in the last couple of years had something to do with being able to interpret the POC by-laws in different ways.”
The POC Executive Board will discuss and deliberate the proposed amendments to the POC’s constitution and by-laws in a special online session tomorrow, Friday.
The IOC official said that once the POC board has made its decision on the changes “these amendments will be forwarded to the IOC for evaluation and approval. The IOC’s purpose is to review if these changes are in line with the Olympic charter.
“The IOC has noted that most of the problems that have beset National Olympic Committees worldwide stemmed from flaws in their respective by-laws so now it can provide guidance and inputs during the evaluation of these changes.”
Once the IOC sees everything is in order, the POC leadership will be formally notified on the matter, after which it will have to call a general assembly to ratify the amendments, according to Cojuanco-Jaworski.
“The ratification by the general assembly will be just be ministerial,” she said. “Once the IOC approves the amendments, it is understood that these changes were already properly deliberated on and all views have been heard
“I just hope that with the effort being put now by the POC matapos na ito kaagad.”
