POC to impose strict criteria on int’l stints

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is done with the habit of sending bloated delegations to international competitions like the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco yesterday said there will no longer be free rides to these events for Filipino athletes.

The POC has also dropped the have-money-will-travel scheme where athletes who fail to meet the criteria can join the delegation if they spend for their own.

Instead, the POC will formulate strict criteria.For the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar in December, the Philippines is sending the smallest delegation in many years.

During last Wedneday’s POC general assembly, SEA Games chef-de-mission Jeff Tamayo forwarded the names of 208 Filipino athletes who qualified for the Myanmar Games.

Four male golfers are still knocking on the door. Cojuangco also clarified that the number could drop if the others fail to justify their late inclusion in the coming days.