Discussions on changes in the Philippine Olympic Committee’s constitution and bylaws persist.
And discussions of a higher age limit was proposed following last week’s executive board meeting which ended in a stalemate.
POC board member Clint Aranas of archery and auditor Jonee Go and canoe-kayak were among those who voiced their opposition to the scheme which sets an age limit of 70 for POC positions.
Aranas said in a radio program hosted by Noli Eala last Saturday that politics should not be the reason for rejecting a senior board member’s bid to seek post in the POC.
“Ayoko ng age cap kasi, this should be about mental capacity, competence and integrity, and not politics,” explained Aranas.
The president of World Archery Philippines cited their national sports association as an example, stating that they have a senior citizen on the board like Jun Sevilla, whom they put in their board out of respect.
“He has the right to vote for a POC candidate, but he can’t be voted upon?” said Aranas, had the age limit been passed.
He added that the decision to set limits should come from the NSAs.
Meanwhile, Go said she proposed a higher age limit of 80 because there are NSA heads who are still able to serve the POC at such an age.
Go cited Julian Camacho, who runs the NSA of wushu as example.
There’s no word yet on the issue requiring an NSA to be recognized by its International Federation (IF) for it to become a part of the POC family.
The committee, which was chaired by past president Ricky Vargas, also tackled the proposal of the removal of the position of chairman.
But this did not pass approval, even after it was stated that many National Olympic Committees all over the world do not have such a position.
The majority also forwarded a proposal on their own amendment which would remove an immediate past president from the Board.
The age limit of 70 has been imposed by the International Olympic Committee since 2016.
