IOC, OCA to send observers to attend POC general assembly

The International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia have entered the picture to put order in the leadership of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

In a letter to the POC executive board, James Macleod, IOC director of Olympic solidarity and NOC relations, said both the IOC and OCA will send their observers to attend the extraordinary general assembly where the vacant positions within the POC will be filled up through an election.

As things stand, only former POC president Ricky Vargas has officially tendered his resignation as well as POC board members Clint Aranas of archery and Cynthia Carrion of gymnastics.

The IOC-OCA directive, which was also signed by OCA director general Husain Al-Musallam, instructed the POC to clarify the current situation within the executive board, and if anyone has formally resigned, provide the IOC and OCA a copy of the board member’s letter of resignation.

Once this is clarified, Macleod said the POC should convene an extraordinary general assembly to take appropriate decisions to fill any vacancy in accordance with the POC constitution and bylaws.

“As the supreme decision-making body of the POC, the POC general assembly is the competent body to decide on the next steps and to resolve any issues prevailing at the level of the executive board,’’ said Macleod and Al-Musallam in their joint notice.

“Please take note that the IOC and OCA will send an observer to attend the extraordinary general assembly,” they added.

Macleod and Al-Musallam also instructed the POC not to take any further unilateral decision or action without prior consultation with the IOC and OCA.

The POC has set an executive board meeting on Monday to tackle the IOC-OCA directive in an effort to end the ugly leadership conflict that has put the organization in a mess.