Mikee: IOC knows what’s going on

MANILA, Philippines — Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski is here to make sure that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is abreast with the developments in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

“We at the IOC are regularly in touch,” said Cojuangco-Jaworski, the distinguished IOC representative to the Philippines, during the online version of the PSA Forum.

Cojuangco-Jaworski was scheduled to give the IOC an update on the POC scene yesterday, including the ongoing debate regarding proposed amendments in its constitution and by-laws.

POC president Abraham Tolentino is batting for the amendments, including putting an age cap of 70 years on those seeking elective positions in the local Olympic body.

In the proposed amendments, a person can no longer occupy the position of president in more than one NSA (national sports association), and that the POC will have to withdraw recognition on an NSA that is no longer affiliated with its own IF (International Federation).

The proposed amendments, however, met a strong opposition from key officers of the POC, including chairman Steve Hontiveros, first vice president Jose Romasanta and five other members of the 13-seat executive board.

The debate ended in a stalemate, and after two meetings, the POC remained with the same old constitution in its hands.

The POC wants to push through with its elections this year despite the rescheduling of the Tokyo Olympics from this month to July next year.

“That’s in the POC by-laws. In other countries, it’s only stated that they will have elections on the Olympic year so naturally that’s 2020. But the Olympics was postponed,” she said.

“There are countries where the constitution says that whether or not the Olympics pushes through, there will be elections. And we are one of those countries. That is specified. Of course, the IOC expects that we adhere to our own constitution,” she added.

Cojuangco-Jaworski, a gold medalist in equestrian during the 2002 Busan Asian Games, was recently elected to the powerful IOC executive board. She is the first Asian woman to hold the position.