Ex-Olympians to honor MVP, t’kwondo chief

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Olympians Association (POA), a group of elite Filipino athletes who have competed in Olympic Games through the years, will have its annual gathering on June 23 at the CityClub Alphaland Makati Place, 7232 Ayala Ave. Ext.

Highlight of the 4 p.m. bash will be the presentation of the POA’s awards to Sun Hong Chong, acknowledged as the father of Philippine taekwondo, and Smart Communications, headed by sports patron Manuel V. Pangilinan for their sustained and long-term support to Philippine sports.

MVP’s Smart Sports is the major backer of the Gilas Pilipinas basketball team set to vie against the world’s best in the World Cup in Spain this August and the MVP Sports Foundation, which is into boxing, tennis, cycling, golf and badminton.

POA president Art Macapagal is calling on all living members of the group to join the reunion to be graced by Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes, who will give an inspirational talk.

“We want to create more awareness for these Filipino athletes who have given honor to the country. At the same time, we want to recognize individuals and groups who have contributed to Philippine sports,” said Macapagal, who will also award POA medals to the last Youth Olympic Games athletes.

The YOG athletes, who saw action in the inaugurals in Singapore in 2010, will also be made POA associate members and together with those who have qualified for the Nanjing YOG have been invited to the event.

Swimmer Haydee Coloso-Espino, a 1960 Rome Olympian and weightlifter Sammy Alegada, who competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, will be flying in from their respective provinces to attend the event backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, McDonald’s, GE, Concepcion Industries, Toyota Pasong Tamo and Toyota Bonifacio Global City.

The POA is recognized by the World Olympians Association, the Philippine Olympic Committee and the PSC. POA chairman is cager Rafael Hechanova with taekwondo’s Stephen Fernandez as vice president, Ral Rosario, secretary-general, and Akiko Thomson-Guevara, treasurer. The board members are Ramon Aldea, Toni Leviste, Roel Velasco and Ramon Campos Jr.