Vargas looks to swimming example as blueprint for unity

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Ricky Vargas is hoping that the moves to unify the country’s national swimming program will result in more national federations solving their internal problems.

“We have some problems in swimming, karatedo and jiujitsu and we’re hoping to solve these issues right away,” Vargas said after receiving word that the international swimming federation (Fina) and the Asian swimming federation (AASF) were standing by the presidency of Lani Velasco at the Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI).

The Philippine Olympic Committee had suspended the PSI until the controversy is settled and installed former International Olympic Committee representative Frank Elizalde as caretaker of the sport.

Swimming took a step at healing the sport when Ral Rosario, representing the PSI and Susan Papa, who heads the Philippine Swimming League (PSL) vowed to unite their efforts for the country.

But Velasco wasn’t present during the unification meeting.

AASF secretary general Taha Sulaiman Al Kishry recently informed the POC that both continental and world governing bodies for aquatics have recognized the validity of Velasco’s election.