THE International Olympic Committee is keeping a close watch on the Philippine Olympic Committee polls and has requested the official list of voters for the political exercise scheduled Nov. 29 at the East Ocean Seafood Restaurant in Paranaque City.
The request was contained in an email letter by Jerome Poivey, IOC Associate Director, Institutional and Governance Services, NOC Relations Department, addressed to POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Secretary General Atty. Wharton Chan last Nov. 16, a copy of which was obtained by Malaya-Business Insight.
“We would appreciate if you (the POC) could share with us the final list of voting members (which should also be published for all NOC members prior to the elections if not done already) as well as the final list of candidates for the various positions within the Executive Board and keep us informed of the next steps leading to your NOC elections,” Poivey wrote.
A copy of the correspondence was furnished to Mikaela Cojuangco-Jaworski, IOC Executive Board member and representative to the Philippines.
In the same letter, Poivey reminded the POC of a communique circulated to the National Olympic Committees “with the sports currently on the programme of the upcoming Olympic Games and the implications on NOC membership and voting rights.
“In view of your upcoming NOC elections, it is important that your NOC can refer to this communication to establish the final list of voting members, as your NOC Bylaws (sic), and that you also inform the Electoral Commission accordingly.”
Based on the communique, vovinam chief Jose Ponciano Malonzo withdrew his protest against squash head Robert Bachmann, who is running for second vice president under the ticket of POC presidential candidate and baseball chief Chito Loyzaga.
Malonzo had earlier questioned Bachmann’s eligibility to run under the POC charter because squash has not been in the Olympic roster of disciplines but will now be a medal sport in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
This and other issues were discussed during the clarificatory meeting held last Tuesday at the Century Park Hotel presided over by Elecom chief Atty. Teddy Kalaw IV in the company of committee member and PSC Commissioner Bong Coo.
Based on the POC roster, 58 National Sports Associations, two members of the POC Athletes Commission and Cojuangco-Jaworski will cast their ballots secretly to elect the Olympic body’s president, first and second vice presidents, treasurer, auditor and five members of the executive board.
