NSAs collective effort key to unity - Art

One way of ensuring unity after the Philippine Olympic Committee elections on Nov. 28 is to get all the NSAs (national sports associations) involved as the POC charts the future of sports in the country.

“All of us have something at stake here so everybody must pitch in,” said Art Macapagal of shooting, who is challenging incumbent POC chief Jose Cojuangco of equestrian in the elections held every four years.

Macapagal, a two-time Olympian who won medals for the country in the Southeast Asian level, said if victorious, he will try to involve as many NSA heads as possible, including those who are with Cojuangco.

“It is going to be a collective effort,” said Macapagal who added that his relation to President Arroyo, his half sister, does not mean that he acts and thinks like a politician.

“I am not a politician. Maybe we should remove the word politics in sports, and don’t use that word anymore so we don’t encourage it,” said the 66-year-old Macapagal.

Cojuangco said last week that unity must follow the elections.

“At the end of the day, all these NSAs should again work together as a team,” said the former congressman of Tarlac, and brother of former President Corazon Aquino.

Macapagal looked confident when he faced the media last week, and laughed hard when asked how many of the 40 NSAs (only a simple majority is needed to win the race) are with him now.

“I’m just very philosophical about this. It’s my nature. I don’t worry about things which I don’t have control of,” he said despite claims by a major supporter that 26 votes from the NSAs “is already a certainty.”

Macapagal said Cito Dayrit of fencing, the POC president from 2000 to 2004, should play a very active role in the Olympic body if the former member of the RP shooting team goes on to win.

“Cito will support us. He was instrumental in putting together our priority agenda. He was one of those who put this together. He we will ask him to play an active role,” said Macapagal.

Dayrit had wanted to run as president and reclaim his old post but had to give way to Macapagal, and not even run for any of the 10 elective positions.

Robert Aventajado of taekwondo, the POC chairman for eight years now, also had plans to run for president, but like Dayrit decided to step aside, and instead run as Macapagal’s chairman.

“We sports officials are only public servants. We are here to inspire, not demoralize. We are here to support, not to make things difficult,” said Macapagal.