Athens, not re-election, Cito’s priority

Supporters yesterday said Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit had reiterated his desire to seek re-election in the November polls but urged his rivals to stop politicking at this stage and instead concentrate on the country’s participation in the Olympic Games slated next month in Athens, Greece.

"Many NSA (national sports association) presidents are being made to believe that Mr. Dayrit has already agreed not to seek re-election as POC president. There is no truth to this," said POC secretary-general Romeo Ribaño in a statement released to the media yesterday.

In fact, Ribaño, also the head of the squash association, stressed that the POC chief has not made any compromise with anybody, contrary to earlier reports indicating Dayrit has agreed to a compromise with Philippine Equestrian Federation (PEF) president Jose (Peping) Cojuangco in a recent meeting in Makati.

"Mr. Dayrit is going to run again in the November elections and I personally believe he has the votes to retain his position," he added.

But Dayrit, according to Ribano, has opted to focus his attention instead on the country’s buildup for the Athens Games slated Aug. 13-29 and the Southeast Asian Games Federation Council Meeting in October, also this year, prior to the Philippine’s hosting of the 2005 SEAG.

"Unlike some zealous sports leaders who have made it a personal crusade to see Mr. Dayrit toppled from his post and who have been making the rounds seeking commitment from various NSA heads, the incumbent POC president has made it a point to focus his attention, at the moment, on the more important problem of preparing Philippine participation in Athens," said Ribaño.

Earlier, a rumor spread that Dayrit offered Cojuangco a variety of options in exchange for a pledge of support in the aftermath of a clamor from various NSAs for the latter to oppose the former in the coming polls. Dayrit’s term expires after the Athens Olympics.

Ribaño denied the report and instead urged the NSA heads to refocus their attention to the more significant matters.

"The Philippines has yet to win a gold medal in the Olympics in 80 years. Mr. Dayrit is hopeful that the 16 athletes we are sending to Athens may finally end our quest for an Olympic gold, which started in Paris in 1924. For this reason, he would like to momentarily put politics on the back burner," added Ribaño.