FILE – Ricky Vargas. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
One Team Pilipinas.
This will be the battle cry of the new Philippine Olympic Committee board under local Olympic chief Ricky Vargas as they try to unite warring factions in each sport and settle all leadership disputes hounding some of the national sports associations.
“We have to hit the ground running and we need the support of everybody,” said newly installed POC secretary general Patrick Gregorio.
The concurrent vice president of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines got the nod of the POC board during a special gathering on Tuesday when former POC president Peping Cojuangco handed over the reins of power to Vargas.
“We’re one team now. We’re one Team Pilipinas,” said Gregorio. “It’s going to be a difficult task. But with the support of the NSAs, the government (Philippine Sports Commission) and the POC board, we will make sure that it will come true.”
As secretary general, Gregorio will be the new president’s ground commander, tasked to oversee the implementation of all programs designed by the POC for the NSAs and their athletes.