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Proposed POC age eligibility: 78

Cynthia Carrion
POC Executive Board member and Gymmnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carrion

AGE doesn’t matter.

Well, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Executive Board has agreed to set the age eligibility for officials of national sports associations at 78 years old.

That’s correct: 7-8.

POC Executive Board member and Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carrion admitted that the age eligibility for high-ranking sports officials is now 78 years old.

“That’s right.The POC Executive Board agreed to set the age limit to 78 years old during our recent meeting via Zoom last month,” said Carrion during the 10th “Usapang Sports on Air” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) last Thursday.

“I hope they don’t get mad at me for telling it to you now, but it was already decided that the age eligibility is 78. It’s supposed to be a secret, because they have not announced it yet in the General Assembly,” added Carrion during the weekly public service program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

“Initially, it was up to 80 years old. But pesonally, I don’t agree. That’s too old. If am 80, I will not be there anymore,” explained Carrion, who is widely credited for the rise of Tokyo Olympian Caloy Yulo and the popularity of gymnastics in the country.

After being approved by the POC Executtive Board, the proposal for the age eligibility will be recommended to the general assembly that gets to decide on a two-thirds vote.

“Our zoom meeting started at around 3 p.m. and we ended up at about 7 p.m. The discussions were very long and our prayer was that we (POC) can finally be united,” said the 72-year-old Carrion.
“I think there are about two to three issues that we have not decided yet,” recalled Carrion in the same session shown live on Facebook and YouTube.

Among those who batted for the age eligibility during the zoom meeting were POC chairman Steve Hontiveros and board members Joey Romasanta (volleyball), Robert Mananquil (billiards), Julian Camacho (wushu), Jonne Go (canoe kayak) and Carrion.

POC board members Prospero “Butch” Pichay (chess) and Clint Aranas (archery) are also reportedly supporting the move to set the age limit to 78.

That, however, did not sit well with the other POC officials, led by president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino (cycling) and Constitution and By-laws Committee head Ricky Vargas (boxing).

Tolentno, Vargas and POC secretary-general Edwin Gastanes (football) all pushed to amend the POC constitution and limit the age cap to 70-75 years old for all officials.

The three officials wanted to limit only officials aged less than 70 years old upon the date of the elections to run for president, first vice president and second vice president.

The required age for other posts in the executive board should be less than 75.

Vargas explained that amendment would have allowed younger officials to run the POC.