THE Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will fight for Ernest John “EJ” Obiena’s inclusion in the Hanoi 31st Southeast Asian Games and perhaps even in the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games—if the Olympic pole vaulter’s conflict with his national sports association (NSA) drags on further.
“We will fight for it…the NOC [national Olympic committee] will fight for it,” POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino reiterated in Tuesday’s online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum, adding he can participate in the regional games even without the endorsement of Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa).
“There’s a provision in the IOC [International Olympic Committee] charter that indicates that the NOC has the sole authority to submit its members of delegation as proposed by the NSAs,” Tolentino said. “This applies to whether they’re the Olympics or regional, continental or world tournaments patronized by the IOC.”
Tolentino cited Rule 27 in the IOC charter that allows an NOC to endorse athletes to compete in any international competitions like the SEA Games, Asian Games and Olympics even without the approval of the NSA.
The POC chief bared that the 26-year-old Asian men’s pole vault record holder is part of the 80-athlete list which are on appeal for funding by the Philippine Sports Commission. These athletes are not part of the 584 athletes that will be funded by the PSC for the Hanoi SEA Games.
“If those 80 athletes cannot obtain government support, they can be funded privately,” he said.
Tolentino said dropping Obiena from Patafa’s list is a guaranteed one medal lost by the country.
“Are they willing to deprive their potential athlete of whatever medal by not endorsing them because of this brouhaha?” Tolentino said.
The POC General Assembly, he said, will convene on Wednesday at the Grandmaster Hotel in Tagaytay City to discuss the status of Patafa President Philip Ella Juico, who was declared persona non grata by the executive board last month.
The board will submit its decision for ratification by the General Assembly.
Tolentino said he also respects Obiena’s decision to withdraw from the PSC-organized mediation.