Frank Elizalde tapped as caretaker for swimming

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Olympic Committee has designated Frank Elizalde, the former International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines, as temporary caretaker of the Philippine Swimming Inc.

The POC arbitration and disputes commission headed by taekwondo chief Robert Aventajado declared the PSI elections last February, where Lani Velasco was named president, invalid.

Aventajado, tasked by POC president Ricky Vargas to put an end to the various problems hounding some NSAs (national sports associations) like swimming, presented his findings to the General Assembly the other day.

He moved that the POC strip the PSI of recognition until the issue is resolved, and the resolution was passed unanimously.

Yesterday, Vargas named Elizalde as caretaker of the swimming association, and hoped that a lasting solution is achieved in time for the Asian Games in Indonesia in August.

“The POC is not taking over the swimming association. Rather, we are assisting them so that everything that they do would conform not only with POC rules, but also with their own by-laws,” said Vargas.

Aventajado, the former POC chairman, was firm in his findings that the last PSI elections violated both the POC by-laws and the PSI by-laws, even as Velasco continued to count on the recognition of FINA, the world governing body in swimming.

“I base my decisions on merit,” said the former car rally champion.

“Mr. Elizalde will be given the free hand to choose the members of the caretaker committee, and then he can call for an elections where everybody will be welcome to participate,” he said.

“We want to show everybody that it will be fair and square in the eyes of everybody, including FINA,” Aventajado added.