Celso Dayrit, 69

MANILA, Philippines — Celso Dayrit, a long-time sports official who was mentor and friend to many prominent leaders of today, passed away Wednesday night due to illness. He was 69.

Dayrit served as Philippine Olympic Committee president from 1999 to 2004 and as a board member of the Philippine Sports Commission a few years before. He also led for a little more than a decade the Philippine Fencing Association, formerly called the Philippine Amateur Fencers Association that was founded by his father Don Francisco Dayrit, Sr. who is considered the father of fencing in the country.

He left a lasting legacy and influenced numerous present generation sports leaders including POC president Abraham Tolentino.

“It is a big loss to us in the sports community and to me personally as he was one of my mentors,” said the Tagaytay congressman and PhilCycling chief. “He was a big help to me in foreign relations especially in the SEAG (Southeast Asian Games) Federation.”

“Philippine sports lost a wise man today. He is one of my very first friends in sports and I have always admired his deep understanding of Olympism and sports dynamics in the country. He will be truly missed,” said PSC chairman William Ramirez.

“I am filled with immense sadness at Cito Dayrit’s passing. He was a friend and valued adviser and I relied on his professionalism, vast knowledge and experience and honest point of view,” said Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) president Ricky Vargas.

“Philippine and international sports just suffered a devastating loss,” he added.