IOC confab on life after sports slated

MANILA, Philippines - An initial batch of 25 athletes including Olympian weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, world taekwondo poomsae champion, Ranie Ann Ortega and Southeast Asian Games titlist John Renee Mier took part in a two-day seminar of the International Olympic Committee Athlete Career Program that highlights the transition of athletes from sports to professional life.

In the seminar opener Monday morning at the Philsports Arena Patrick Glennon, vice president of the IOC ACP, briefed Filipino athletes on how to access vital information on the program, which was put together by the IOC and private partner Adecco, an international recruitment and placement corporation.

“In simple terms, this program will prepare athletes for a career after their playing days and connecting them with the business community,” Glennon said.

Glennon identified three pillars for the program – education, life skills, employment – and delved on the various strategies for coping with the transition period.

“Mahalaga po ito para sa aming kinabukasan lalo na kapag nag-retire na po kami,” said Diaz, who is on her way to her second straight Olympics appearance in London this year.

Philippine Olympic Committee project manager Dr. Benjamin “Chippy” Espiritu hailed the IOC for choosing the Philippines as only the second Asian country to be given access to the highly successful program that benefitted thousands of athletes worldwide including those who took part in the Paralympics.

“Of course, we will have to develop a Philippine approach and involve our top corporations to enhance the opportunities for our national athletes. This is the direction set by POC president Jose Cojuangco,” Espiritu said.

Also present was former Olympian and shooting association president Arturo Macapagal, who invited the POC’s attention on the program that was launched by the IOC in 2005.

“Our Olympic athletes bring a special value to the world through their dedication to sport on a global stage. The International Olympic Committee, in cooperation with the Adecco Group, helps athletes make the difficult transition from elite sport to a new career through the IOC Athlete Career Program. Athletes possess unique and special traits and experience they can contribute to the labor market,” said IOC president Jacques Rogge in his message to participants.

The seminar winds up Tuesday and Glennon vowed to return six month after to monitor the progress of the program which will be propagated by a group of seven instructors chosen by the POC, including former POC Athletes Commission head Dina Bernardo and Philippine Sports Commission commissioner Akiko Thomson.

Others who attended were recommended by the various national sports associations such as boxing, chess, athletics and pencak silat.