‘Healing’ POC meet set June 13

When Olympic chief Ricky Vargas ends the next board meeting, he expects to feel the unified atmosphere needed for the success of the country’s Southeast Asian Games hosting.

The president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) hopes to achieve the camaraderie among his peers during the expanded POC board gathering scheduled on June 13.

“There’s nothing really personal in this, it’s just a misunderstanding,” Vargas said, a week after the conflict that broke out within the POC executive board made an ugly impression before the general assembly.

The smoke only cleared when Philippine Sports Commission Chair Butch Ramirez accepted the chef de mission appointment for the SEA Games two days after the turbulent episode that saw members of the POC board throw tirades at each other during the meeting.

“Come June 13 during the expanded board meeting, I want to unite everybody for the sake of Philippine sports. Let’s heal the wounds,” Vargas said.

Though the agenda on that day has not been penciled yet, Vargas knows it would be the chance to reach out to his fellow board members and come up with a solution to the uncertainty brought about by the infighting.

“We will simplify the agenda. I hope we could work together; malapit na ang SEA Games (the SEA Games is near),” Vargas said.

Ramirez, who led Team Philippines to the overall title in the 2005 Manila SEAG as chef de mission, asked them to toss aside their personal differences and become role models to the youth.

“Let’s heed the call of the chairman. Let’s heed the call of the Palace (Malacañang). It’s time to heal,” Vargas said.