Carrion named SEA Games chef-de-mission

MANILA, Philippines - Cynthia Carrion, the head of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines, has been appointed chef-de-mission of the Philippine delegation to the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur in August.

Carrion, long-time board member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), is expected to have her hands full trying to steer the Filipino athletes to a better finish in the biennial event.

The Philippines finished sixth overall in the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore where Carrion served as deputy to chef-de-mission Julian Camacho of wushu.

Jose Cojuangco, POC president, announced the appointment yesterday at Philsports in Pasig.

Squash Rackets Association of the Philippines president Robert Bachmann will serve as Carrion’s deputy.

Initially, word got out of the POC meeting that Bachmann had been named chef-de-mission to the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games. But later on a clarification was made that Carrion earned the post.

In fact, Bachmann already granted an interview with Sports Radio DZSR regarding his appointment, only to be informed that he will instead serve as Carrion’s deputy.

A few other appointments were announced yesterday, including the choice of Camacho as chef-de-mission to the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, and Jonne Go as chef-de-mission of the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires also in 2018.

Steve Hontiveros of bowling kept his post as POC secretary-general while Tom Carrasco of triathlon was named special assistant to the POC president.

Carrasco will remain as POC chairman until a new one is elected.

Former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia was named head of the sports and rules committee to the SEA Games.

Jose Romasanta, POC vice president, said the job of chef-de-mission is a “thankless job.”

“You will lose one year of your life being the chef-de-mission because from hereon until the Games you will be glued to the job. Everybody’s problem becomes your problem,” said Romasanta, the chef-de-mission to the 2016 Rio Olympics.