Lopez heads Team Phl to 2012 Games

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) yesterday named boxing’s Manny Lopez as delegation head of the 2012 London Olympics and tapped wushu’s Julian Camacho and tennis’ Romeo Magat as deputy chefs de mission of Team Phl to the Southeast Asian Games.

Lopez, concurrently the POC first vice president, will oversee administrative matters pertaining to the London Games, including the bids of the country’s Olympic hopefuls.

Camacho, also the POC treasurer, and Magat, secretary general of the tennis association, will assist chef de mission Sim Chi Tat of canoe-kayak in managing the projected 700-strong contingent to the Nov. 11-25 SEAG in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia.

“The deputies will be assigned to the two areas (Jakarta and Palembang) and their task includes monitoring the (athletes’) training program,” POC president Peping Cojuangco said after yesterday’s POC general assembly.

The CDM for London was necessitated by the fact that as early as now, the Games’ organizers have been sending queries.

“We want to have someone who will oversee things from the beginning,” Cojuangco said. “And his (Lopez’s) job will include the Olympic-qualifying competitions.”

Meanwhile, the POC body recognized the recent election of new presidents Mikee Romero of shooting, Enrico Vasquez of karatedo and Lucas Managuelod of muay.