IOC chief nangangamba sa kinakaharap na isyu ng IABA

MANILA, Philippines — Nagpahayag ng pag-aalala si International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach ng Germany sa estado ng boxing bilang regular discipline ng quadrennial Olympic Games.

Nag-aalala umano ang 64-anyos na dating fencer na si Bach sa mga isyu na kinaharap ngayon ng International Boxing Association (AIBA) ukol sa anti-doping, officials  integrity at financial management ng AIBA na ngayon ay pinamunuan ni Wu Ching-kou ng Chinese-Taipei.

Ayon kay Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Ricky Vargas, umaasa si Bach taga- Wurzburg, Germany na mareresolba ng AIBA ang nasabing isyu para manatili ang boxing bilang regular sports sa darating na 2020 Olympiad sa Tokyo, Japan.

“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,” sabi ni Vargas na presidente rin ng Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP).

Ang pahayag ni Bach ay pinaabot kay Vargas habang nag-courtesy call ang mga POC officials kasama si secretary-ge­neral Pato Gregorio kay Bach sa IOC headquarter sa Lausanne, Switzerland noong Miyerkules.

Kasama rin nina Vargas at Gregorio sa kanilang dalawang araw na pagbisita kay Bach si IOC representative to the Philippine Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski na anak ni dating POC president Jose Cojuangco.

Nagkaroon din ng pagkakataon ang mga POC officials na maki­pagkita kina IOC officials Jerome Polvey (Head of Institutional Relations and Go­vernance & NOC Relations), Olivier Niamkey (Head of Athletes Unit & Relations with OCA and Asian NOCs) at Director General Pere Miro.

“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,” sabi ni Vargas na apat na buwan pa lamang na naglilingkod bilang pangulo ng POC.

“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,” dagdag ni Vargas.