NIKKO Huelgas and Henry Dagmil, both gold medal contenders in the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore this June, have been appointed to the athletes commission of the Philippine Olympic Committee along with three other decorated Filipino athletes.
Also named to the commission were women boxers Mitchell Martinez and world champion Josie Gabuco with the fifth member to be chosen any time soon.
The athletes commission has two seats in the POC general assembly with voting power. A representative from the athletes commission also sits in the POC executive board where issues are raised, tackled and decided.
Huelgas, Dagmil and Co. will take over from long jumper Marestella Torres and boxer Harry Tañamor, who cast votes in behalf of the athletes group during the 2012 POC presidential elections won by Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. for the third time.
In his first official function as member of the commission, Huelgas will attend the Olympic Council of Asia Athletes Forum in Kuwait on Jan. 21 to 24 where the OCA will orient the representatives from 45 Asian countries of the programs that will benefit the athletes.
Huelgas, team captain of the national triathlon squad, is the strongest contender of the Philippines in the swim-bike-run event. Gabuco and Martinez are gold medalists in the SEA Games and other prestigious international events.