Athletes’ performance crucial in POC derby

The country’s overall performance in the Athens Olympics this month, insiders believe, may play a big role in deciding the outcome of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) elections in November.

Celso Dayrit of fencing, the incumbent POC president, is seeking a second term but, in recent months, has kept his cards so close to his chest, saying he would rather concentrate on the RP campaign in Athens than focus on the elections.

Dayrit assumed the POC presidency after former presidential daughter Cristy Ramos Jalasco was booted out of office in 1999. The following year, Dayrit won a one-on-one battle for the top post against athletics chief Go Teng Kok.

Dayrit’s four-year term officially ends in December or a month after the POC elections where he will be challenged, as advertised, by equestrian president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco who has unity in sports as his battlecry.

Cojuangco, according to his backers, is slowly gaining ground and has reportedly earned the support of 22 of the 36 national sports associations (NSAs) leaders with voting powers in the POC.

But whether Cojuangco could really turn this early show of support into votes in November is another thing.

Dayrit defeated GTK in the 2000 elections, 22-11. Just the same, his capacity and capability to draw as many votes in this year’s elections have been severely doubted and questioned by his critics.

After the equestrian president announced his intentions to run as POC president last month, there’ve been so much talks about a purported compromise between Dayrit and Cojuangco.

Dayrit was said to have tried to convince Cojuangco from running and at the same time dangled the POC chairmanship before the latter. Then reports of the same nature came out, this time with Cojuangco making the offer.

Romeo Ribano of squash, the POC secretary-general and one of Dayrit’s staunchest allies, however, said no such offer has been made. In a statement released to the press, he maintained that Dayrit is determined to seek reelection.

"Many NSA presidents are being made to believe that Mr. Dayrit has already agreed not to seek reelection. There is no truth to this. Contrary to rumors, Mr. Dayrit has not made any compromise with anybody," Ribano said.

"Mr. Dayrit is going to run in the November elections and I personally believe he has the votes to retain his position," added Ribano in the statement which may have sealed an exciting November showdown between Dayrit and Cojuangco.

A story also came out recently saying Cojuangco is now pushing for a no-election scenario and that he would rather assume the POC presidency by acclamation. This, he said, would mean that he has the support of all NSAs, therefore leading to unity.

Recently asked by The STAR to comment on this, Dayrit replied through text: "Sorry. But I would rather not talk about it."

An NSA president said he believes Dayrit is just waiting for the results in Athens, and that a disastrous medal-less finish for the Philippines, similar to what happened during the 2000 Sydney Olympics, could spell doom on Dayrit’s bid for reelection.

Dayrit was already POC president during the Sydney Games, and going home empty-handed for the second straight time definitely won’t do him good in the elections.

If placed in a no-win situation, Dayrit can turn things around by announcing he is no longer running as POC president, and would rather hand over the presidency to Cojuangco–through acclamation. He can always say he’s doing it for the sake of unity, and even get something in return: the POC chairmanship perhaps.

However, a Filipino athlete winning a medal in Athens, a medal of any color that is, could change the entire picture.

With the victorious athlete or athletes by his side upon their arrival from Athens early next month, Dayrit, with his ready smile, then can start saying "See you in November."