Tchoukball seeks POC nod

Today is the international celebration of Olympic Day, wherein the values of Olympism and the heroism of athletes is honored worldwide. The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is holding its own celebration at the Philsports track oval from 6 to 11 a.m. Many of the country’s greatest athletes will be present for photo opportunities and autograph signing. The event will also raise funds for the athletes’ commission to assist past and present national athletes in need. Booths selling food and other merchandise will be around the oval. An obstacle course is also set up for athletes, children and even dogs. The event is presented by San Miguel Corporation, the PBA, the Philippine Sports Commission, the MVP Sports Foundation, the Philippine Olympian Association and the Philippine Obstacle Sports Association.

“The POC invites everyone to celebrate more than just sports, but also the ideals and values that define the Olympic movement,” says POC deputy secretary-general Karen Tanchanco-Caballero. “And it will be fun to hear the stories of our Olympians.”

Unknown to the general public, the change in leadership in the Philippine Olympic Committee earlier this year spawned a rush by several sports to apply for full or even associate membership. Some sports were reportedly turned away during the previous dispensation for political reasons, while others were hesitant to apply precisely to avoid being involved in internal squabbles. As we know, since 2008, many sports were victims of political persecution, and some ended being split into two factions, which created the additional problem of who would be recognized by the international federation. One of the reasons used was the bogus claim that the International Olympic Committee wanted certain sports to merge to make it easier for new sports to enter the Olympics as new events of existing sports, instead.

Tchoukball is one of the sports seeking membership in the POC. The Tchoukball Association of the Philippines (TAP) has been an influential member of the International Tchoukball Federation (FITB). In April, the TAP leadership composed of Raymund Jamelo (who is also president of Southeast Asian Tchoukball), his wife FITB general secretary Elvie, and other officials made a courtesy call on POC secretary-general Patrick Gregorio, POC membership committee head Robert Bachmann, and Tanchanco-Caballero. They were joined by FITB president Fang Feng-Szu, who was in the country to observe the eighth Philippine Tchoukball Championships. At the meeting, TAP expressed its intention to join the POC.

The Philippine men’s and women’s tchoukball teams will join the eighth Asia Pacific Tchoukball Championships in Singapore from July 6 to 8. The country is fielding a team of 12 for each division, with the players hailing from Manila, Bacolod, Cebu and Butuan.

“The goal is quite simple,” says Tchoukball Association of the Philippines (TAP) president and delegation head Jamelo. “We hope to land in the semifinals to qualify for the 2019 World Tchoukball Championships which will be hosted either by Germany or Brazil. It will be challenging, but possible.”

In just seven years, TAP has propelled the Philippines onto the world map in the sport. In Southeast Asia, the country is second only to world number two Singapore in both men’s and women’s events. The national men’s and women’s teams are also in the top 10 in the world in beach tchoukball. This, despite the fact that national players are scattered all over the country and are rarely together. So far, on its own, TAP has managed to send teams to at least two international competitions a year, the last one was the 2017 Southeast Asian Tchoukball Championships held in Bangkok, which was covered by The STAR. The Philippines finished second in both the men’s and women’s competitions.