Comedy of errors

THE Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), of which I have been a member for more than 30 years, keeps insisting that we can accredit an athlete to the international competition such as the SEA Games, Asian Games, or the Olympics, even if an athlete is not endorsed or accredited by the National Sports Association (NSA). In this case, we're talking about our controversial and Asia's best pole vaulter EJ Obiena. POC claims that even if Patafa does not accredit Obiena, POC will do everything for Obiena to represent the country in all these Games. Means bypassing the NSA.

If there's anyone who knows better that this can't be done is our own POC President Bambol Tolentino. He tends to forget that in the 2009 Laos SEA Games, twelve cyclists not accredited by his NSA and IF, the UCI, were not allowed by the organizers to join, even if they were already in Laos, endorsed by the POC under Peping Cojuangco. Tolentino, was the recognized NSA President by the IF while the POC then recognized Cong. Mikee Romero.The lone lady cyclist endorsed by Tolentino's NSA, Marites Baby Bitbit, was also not allowed to participate, in fairness to the others. This brought about a Senate hearing on a "harassment" complaint by Bitbit for missing the event. In short, as long as the International Athletics Federation recognizes Philip Juico as President, Obiena will not be able to vault. In case he qualifies for the Olympics, he may be allowed to vault as an individual, without representing our country and flag, as what happened to many athletes in the last Tokyo Olympics, especially from Russia for doping violations.