The ongoing leadership dispute in the Philippine Olympic Committee is not a cause for concern for national athletes who are preparing for their stint in 30th Southeast Asian Games.
National team chef de mission and Philippine Sports Commission chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez made this assurance to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who visited more than 500 athletes during the Athletes General Assembly yesterday at the Philsports Complex in Pasig.
“He is bothered by the situation. But the matter in the POC is internal, now that the International Olympic Committee has intervened. Our focus is really on the athletes,” said Ramirez in his discussion with Medialdea, who represented President Rodrigo Duterte, along with PSC Commissioners Celia Kiram, Arnold Agustin, Charles Maxey and Ramon Fernandez.
Medialdea called off his trip to the province to join the gathering.
“I just want to relay to you the support of our President. He is behind you para sa (laban sa) SEAG!” Medialdea said.
Track and field legend Elma Muros-Posadas and Olympic silver medalist Onyok Velasco were also around, and both encouraged the athletes to do their best.
Earlier, rugby official Ada Milby and taekwondo’s Stephen Fernandez were named deputy chefs de Mission of Team Philippines. They will be assisting Ramirez.
Milby and Fernandez will be assigned in two of the three main clusters in the biennial meet, namely the Subic, Clark and Manila clusters.
Other venues include those in Batangas, Cavite, La Union, Bulacan, Tagaytay and Calatagan.
“Ilayo natin lahat sa mga problema ang lahat ng ating gagawin. Laro lang tayo. Let us win as one and patuloy natin itaguyod and ating bansa sa larangan ng sports,” Medialdea said.