MANILA, 31 January 2003 — Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Celso Dayrit gained a major sports achievement in Kuwait recently when he was elected vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia.
This is the highest position a Filipino sports leader has ever attained in the continental association of National Olympic Committees which was founded 52 years ago in New Delhi, India.
Dayrit has become only the third Filipino to hold the third highest post in the world Olympic Movement, the top two being the late Don Jorge Vargas and Francisco Elizalde, who have both been named members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
It will be recalled that Dayrit was recently elected first chairman of the newly-constituted SEA Games Federation Executive Committee, which is the SEAGF’s governing body.
Dayrit also holds the distinction of being the only certified Filipino International Director of the Olympic Solidarity Itinerant Administration School for Sports Leaders, the longest serving executive board member of the Asian Fencing Confederation and an honorary life president of the Southeast Asian Fencing Confederation.
“It is an honor to be elected (OCA vice president),”said Dayrit. “But more importantly, it is an honor to serve on behalf of our country, which has strongly supported the Olympic Movement.”
Recognized by the international sports community as a sports management expert, Dayrit has conducted courses for (sports) leaders all over Asia under the IOC program.
Kuwait’s Sheik Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah was re-elected OCA president for a fourth consecutive four-year term while Prince Randhir Singh of India was also reelected secretary general.
IOC’s Elizalde, 18 NSAs support 3As hosting
Frank Elizalde, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative to the Philippines and 18 National Sports Associations have declared their unqualified support for the country’s hosting of the Asian Athletics Association Championships slated Sept. 18-23 at the Rizal Memorial track and field stadium.
Elizalde, a former football association president, said the hosting is an excellent idea.
“Due to worldwide negative write-ups, the Philippines is given a chance to show a positive image. There will be expenses but it’s all worth it. I’m all for it. It will help create a balance,” said the IOC official who confirmed his presence in the affair.
Taekwondo president Robert Aventajado, weightlifting’s Monico Puentevella, tennis’ Salvador Andrada, judo’s Rey Jaylo, chess’ Florencio Campomanes, basketball’s Tiny Literal and Graham Lim and sepak takraw’s Mario Tanchanco were among the early birds who signified support to the event that will help promote the Philippines in the most positive way.
“I understand that more than forty countries are expected to take part. That’s a mighty big number. The government should exploit this opportunity so as to earn goodwill and generate friendship among our Asian neighbors,” Aventajado, also the chairman of the Philippine Olympic Committee, said.
Ateneo claims Luzon football title
National Capital Region (NCR) champion Ateneo de Manila lived up to expectations by beating Masbate Comprehensive National High, 21, to capture the Luzon title in the Coke Go-for-Goal under-16 football tournament at the PhilSports field in Pasig City.
Ken Noda sparkled for the Ateneans by scoring both goals after Mark Angelo Marcaida had given Masbate a 1-0 lead in the 43rd minute.
Noda tied the count in the 51st and then knocked in the winning goal — a waist-high shot from 12 feet-in the 74th.
NCR’s Gerard Concio was named the tourney’s most valuable player. The other individual awardees were Baguio’s Leopoldo Delcagan and Mark Ed Lusong, best defender and midfielder respectively, Marcaida, highest scorer with 11 goals and NCR’s Aldous Madrangca best goalkeeper.
For finishing 1-2 in the Luzon finals, Ateneo and Masbate earned the last two slots in the national finals set Feb. 9-13 in Dumaguete City.
Tour 2003 will test top
cyclists’ fighting spirit
The Philippine National Cycling Association is convinced the Tour Pilipinas 2003 presented by Air21 promises to put to test the 84-cyclists who have qualified for the race this summer.
Details of the route have been kept under wraps by the PNCA, which is tasked to run the technical aspect of the race, but initial pair of survey reports revealed that cyclists will really be stretched out as far as skill and endurance are concerned.
Paquito Rivas, president of the PNCA, formerly known as the Professional Cycling Association of the Philippines, the Tour Pilipinas 2003, which is initially a 14-stage race, has been expanded to 15 legs spread over 18 days that will take cyclists from Legaspi to Baguio and back to Manila.
The approximate total distance of the race is 2,367 kilometers.
A total of 84 cyclists, divided into 12 teams of seven, passed the stringent pre-qualifying and qualifying races Air21 set up to determine the final roster.
Air21 has put up a record P1 million for the top team prize in this year’s event.
Tubod security for 2003 Palaro in question anew
Regional directors of the Department of Education (DepEd) have expressed apprehensions about the security situation in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, site of the 2003 Palarong Pambansa, to raise fears the annual meet might again slip from the hands of the Mindanao town.
The regional directors’ concern over Tubod’s security was stated in the DepEd’s reply to the Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) proposed guidelines for the conduct of the 2003 Palaro sometime May.
The regional directors recommended the host province, police and military officials guarantee the safety of the delegates, most of whom are student-athletes.
Tubod, Lanao del Norte, was supposed to host the Palaro last year. But despite officials’ assurance of peace and order, the DepEd regional directors went on to recommend the transfer of the multi-event competition to Naga City.
That was the third time Tubod was not able to host the Palaro. In 1999, the Palaro was canceled due to financial constraints and in 2000, it was transferred to Bacolod City due to the unstable peace and order situation in Mindanao.
Tubod officials had long prepared for the Palaro, even constructing a brand-new sports complex for the event. They even vied as satellite venue for the 23rd Southeast Asian Games, which the country will host in 2005.
Davao to host biggest PAL Interclub
The country’s entire golfing fraternity will converge on Southern Mindanao when the Philippine Airlines Interclub stages its annual championships in Davao City next month.
The 56th edition of the regular Men’s Interclub, universally acknowledged as the national golf team championship, will be played from Feb. 26 to March 1.
Preceding it will be the 17th staging of the Seniors Interclub, a companion tournament for the clubs’ senior players, from Feb. 21-23.
A record number of teams — 77 Men’s and 68 Seniors — will see action in the week-long tournament. This is the largest field in the history of the PAL Interclub, surpassing the previous high of 70 Men’s and 58 Seniors teams registered last year in Bacolod.
Lanao del Norte picked
as Sports Institute site
The province of Lanao del Norte has been chosen as one of the sites for the proposed Philippine Institute of Sports, according to Philippine Sports Commission (PC) chairman Eric Buhain. Buhain said the Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, will be the institute’s hub in Mindanao because of its superior facilities, excellent location and the interest shown by its people.
