Handball’s Lopez is chef de mission for London Olympics

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Olympic Committee named on Wednesday former boxing chief and now handball secretary general Manny Lopez as chef de mission for the London Olympics in 2012.

The local Olympic body also appointed wushu’s Julian Camacho and tennis’ Romeo Magat as deputy CDM of Sim Chi Tat, who was earlier named co-CDM with PSC commissioner Chito Loyzaga, for the Indonesia Southeast Asian Games in November.

Loyzaga eventually gave up his CDM post after he was also named as concurrent PSC executive director.

The appointments were made during the general assembly presided by POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and chair Monico Puentevella.

“I’m honored to be named chief of mission and thankful to our president Cojuangco and chairman Puentevella,” said Lopez. “I will do everything within my capacity to make the dream of winning the elusive first Olympic gold a reality.”

Lopez said he would immediately coordinate with the London organizing committee and meet with heads of the national sports associations with athletes who would compete in qualifiers to the Olympics.

Camacho and Magat have a more pressing assignment as the Indonesia SEA Games is only about five months away, and Sim has been sidelined by an ailment.

“They said we are cramming but Indonesia has yet to send the SEA Games manual, so maybe everybody is pressed for time,” said Magat, the secretary general of the Philippine Tennis Association.

Magat will take care of the events that will be held in Palembang, the capital city of South Sumatra. Tennis, where the Philippines won two golds, two silvers and two bronzes two years ago in Laos, will also be held there.

Camacho is on his fourth tour of duty as CDM.