![]() | |
Country/Region | ![]() |
---|---|
Code | PHI |
Created | 1911 A |
Recognized | 1929 A |
Continental Association | OCA |
Headquarters | PhilSports Complex, Pasig, Metro Manila |
President | Abraham Tolentino |
Secretary General | Wharton Chan |
Website | www |
Notes | ^A As the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF) |
The Philippine Olympic Committee Inc. [1] (POC) is the National Olympic Committee of the Philippines.
The POC is a private, non-governmental organization composed of and serve as the mother organization of all National Sports Associations (NSAs) in the Philippines. It is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as having the sole authority for representation of the Philippines in the Olympic Games, the Asian Games, the Southeast Asian Games and other multi-event competitions.
The POC is financially independent and does not receive any subsidy from government, though its member NSAs receive some financial assistance from the Philippine Sports Commission. Instead, the POC supports its own activities with funds generated from sponsorships, licensing fees on the use of the Olympic marks, IOC subsidy and proceeds from special projects and donations.
The Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation was organized in a permanent basis in 1911 as a result of the gaining of foothold of athletics in the Philippine Islands which was caused by Organized sports was first introduced in the Philippines during the American administration of the islands with the establishment of the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF) in January 1911. The PAAF organized the inaugural Far Eastern Championship Games in 1913 which was contested by China, Japan, and the host country, Philippines. [2]
The first Filipino Olympian was David Nepomuceno, who participated in Athletics in the 100m and 200m sprints events at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. However, it was only in 1929 when the International Olympic Committee recognized the PAAF as the Philippines' National Olympic Committee. The recognition was a year after swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso won the Philippines' first Olympic medal—a bronze in the 200 meters breaststroke event at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. In 1975 the PAAF was renamed to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) after the establishment of the Department of Youth and Sports Development which effectively abolished the former. [2]
The Philippine Olympic Committee has held office along with the Philippine Sports Commission at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex until the construction of the PhilSports Complex which became the headquarters of the two organizations. [3]
In January 2023, amendments on leadership and composition of member national sports associations of the POC took effect. [4]
The Philippine Olympic Committee is governed by its executive board, which composes the chairman, president, first and second vice president, secretary general, treasurer, auditor and the immediate past president. The executive board is also joined by four members elected by the board members and any IOC members present in the country. The executive board holds at least one meeting every month and makes valid acts if majority of its members are present which is seven or more person in all cases. Decisions by the POC are voted upon by the members of the executive board and in case of a tie, the chairman decides upon the matter concerned. [1]
Commissions or committees are also organized by the POC. The Membership, Arbitration, Ethics, Technical, Ways and Means and Athlete’s Commissions are the standing commissions of the POC. The creation of additional commissions are subject to approval by the executive board upon recommendation by the President. [1]
Designation | Name | Sport |
---|---|---|
Chairman | Steve Hontiveros | Handball |
President | Abraham Tolentino | Cycling |
Secretary General | Wharton Chan | Kickboxing |
Vice Presidents | Al Panlilio | Basketball |
Richard Gomez | Fencing | |
Treasurer | Cynthia Carrion | Gymnastics |
Auditor | Joaquin Loyzaga | Baseball |
Board members | David F. Carter | Judo |
Pearl Anne Managuelod | Muay Thai | |
Jose Raul Canlas | Surfing | |
Charlie L. Ho | Netball | |
Immediate Past President | Victorico Vargas | Boxing |
Athletes' Commission | Nikko Huelgas | Triathlon |
Membership Committee Chair | Avelino Sumagui | Cycling |
Ambrosio Padilla was the first president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) serving from 1975 to 1976. Previously he served as president of the POC's predecessor, the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation from 1970 to 1975. [2]
The president has the power to call a special meeting of the executive board upon a written request addressed to the secretary general. This privilege can also be invoke by the majority of the executive board. The president also recommends the creation of a new commission within the POC, as well as the appointment of each of the commission's chairman and members, and its duties, tasks, and authorities, all subject to the approval of the board. [1]
Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation
Philippine Olympic Committee
Sports associations that are members of the Philippine Olympic Committee are recognized as National Sports Associations (NSAs). There are two levels of memberships within the POC which is regular and associate. The POC also gives accreditation to recognize disciplines of sports. [5]
Since February 2009, applicant National Sports Associations should have an official address and contact numbers (telephone, fax, email address) or official website and a directory of its officers and members, and a board resolution authorizing the signatory officer to apply for POC membership with an indication of the level of membership. Also it is required that a certificate of membership with the pertinent International Federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee which governs the sport of the applicant internationally to be submitted to the POC, unless the International Federation requires its members first to gain recognition from their National Olympic Committees. International Federation membership is required for regular membership. A notarized affidavit is also to be submitted which states that the applicant sports association is the only legitimate and governing body of their sport in the national level with the POC. [5]
The prospect national sports association should also have organized at least two annual National Championships and present documenting evidences to the POC which includes duly certified applicants, results, photos, and relevant press releases. It is also required that articles be published in three major daily newspapers of general circulation which states that the applicant is seeking POC membership. A copy of the publication, as well as an affidavit of publication from the newspapers concerned to be presented to the POC. If there are many other sports bodies claiming to represent the same sport of the applicant in the Philippines, an objection to the application for membership of the applicant sports association must be presented before the POC Membership Commission within fifteen days from the date of publication. [5]
The a POC Membership Commission gives recommendations to the POC following the complete submission of required documents for applications. The POC membership of applicant associations is subject to approval of the POC General Assembly upon the recommendation by the Membership Commission. If the regular or associate membership of the applicant is approved by the POC, the nature of the membership shall be provisional for one year pending a review of the association's performance in national and international levels. [5]
The applicant's NSA President as a POC member should not be an incumbent member. [5]
A member of the POC could be suspended or expelled from the ational olympic committee by 3/4 vote of the POC General Assembly. [6]
In 2005, the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), which was founded in 1936, was expelled from the committee after disputes between BAP and POC over the latter's leadership. It was replaced by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas. [7]
The Philippine Karatedo Federation also lost its POC membership in 2018 after the World Karate Federation stripped its recognition in April 2018. It was replaced by Karate Pilipinas. The POC recognition for Philippine Swimming as the national sports association for all aquatic sports was revoked and transferred to newly founded Philippine Aquatics in 2023 after the former was stripped of recognition from the World Aqautics because of governance issue. [8]
Philippine Volleyball Federation was revoked recognition in 2015 due leadership crisis, it was temporarily replaced by Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, until the Philippine National Volleyball Federation was founded in 2021. In 2016, the POC revoked Philippine Bowling Congress' membership due to legal issues. It was replaced by Philippine Bowling Federation. Arnis Philippines was replaced by Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation in 2017.
The Philippine Dragon Boat Federation withdrawn its membership at the POC due to POC and PSC intervention to the IDBF.
Sports in the Philippines is an important part of the country's culture. There are six major sports in the Philippines: basketball, boxing, tennis, football, billiards, and volleyball.
The Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) was the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) recognized national governing body for basketball in the Philippines. It was recognized by the FIBA in 1936 until 2007 when the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas or SBP was recognized as the new governing body of basketball in the country.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas or the SBP is the national sport association for basketball in the Philippines, formed from the merging of the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) and Pilipinas Basketball (PB).
Ambrosio Bibby Padilla was a Filipino basketball player and an elected member of the Senate of the Philippines. He was one of the most important figures in Asian basketball development.
The Philippine Karatedo Federation N.S.A., Inc. (PKF-NSA) is the governing body claiming jurisdiction over the sport of karate in the Philippines.
The Philippine Dragon Boat Federation is the national team sports federation for dragon boat racing in the Philippines. The Philippine Dragon Boat Federation is one of the founding members of the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) and recognized by the IDBF as the specific Governing Body for Dragon Boat racing in the Philippines. It is also a member of the South East Asian Traditional Boat Federation and the Asian Dragon Boat Federation. It succeeded the Amateur Rowing Association of the Philippines, as the responsible body for handling dragon boat teams in the country.
The Philippine Volleyball Federation was the governing body for volleyball in the Philippines from 1961 to 2015.
The Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation(PAAF) was the governing body of sports in the Philippines and the predecessor of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) is the National Sports Association (NSA) for athletics sports such as track and field, road running, cross country running, and racewalking in the Philippines, including the core athletics sports which constitute the Decathlon in the Olympic Games. PATAFA is also a member of the Asian Athletics (AA) and the World Athletics.
Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. was the national sport association for volleyball in the Philippines between 2015 and January 2021. It was recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and provisionally recognized by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). In 2021, the newly formed Philippine National Volleyball Federation became recognized by the POC, AVC and FIVB as the national sport association for volleyball in the Philippines.
The Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines, abbreviated as FESSAP is a university sports federation based in the Philippines established in 1999. It is recognized by the Commission on Higher Education since 1999 and member of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) since 2009. The university sports body is the sole recognized body for university sports in the Philippines by FISU. FESSAP is also a member of the Asian University Sports Federation since 2000.
Jose A. "Joey" Romasanta was the 11th president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), the country's highest olympic body. He is also the president of Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. (LVPI), the official NSA for Volleyball in the Philippines that is currently recognized by the POC, Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and the Philippine Karatedo Federation (PKF-NSA), the official NSA for karatedo.
The 2016 PSA Annual Awards was organized by the Philippine Sportswriters Association, the oldest media organization based in the Philippines formed by sportswriters from newspapers and sports news websites. PSA is currently helmed by Riera U. Mallari of the Manila Standard. The awards night was co-presented by MVP Sports Foundation, Milo, Philippine Racing Commission, San Miguel Corporation, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Accel, GlobalPort, Rain or Shine, Maynilad, Smart Communications, ICTSI, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, SM Prime Holdings, One Esplanade, National University and Senator Francis Escudero. The awards were given to the Philippine athletes and organizations in recognition of their achievements and victories in 2015, particularly the Filipino gold medalists in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games.
The Philippine Hockey Association, also known as Larong Hockey sa Pilipinas, Inc. is the national governing body for field hockey in the Philippines. It is recognized by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) and the International Hockey Federation (IHF).
Victorico L. Chaves, also known as "Concoy" was a Filipino sportsman and politician. He served as an assistant majority floor leader and representative of the 2nd district of Misamis Oriental for three consecutive terms and also served as the president of the Philippine Amateur Volleyball Association from 1986 to 1995. He is also a co-author of a house bill seeking for the creation of the Philippine Sports Commission enacted into law in 1990.
The Pilipinas Sambo Federation Inc. (PSFI) is the national governing body of the Russian martial arts of sambo in the Philippines and is a member of Fédération Internationale de Sambo (FIAS) & SAMBO Unnion of Asia (SUA).
Victorico "Ricky" P. Vargas is a Filipino executive who served as the 10th President of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) from March 5, 2018, after winning over Jose Cojuangco Jr. in a court-ordered elections held on February 23, 2018, until his resignation on June 18, 2019.
The Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas is the national governing body for the sport of kickboxing in the Philippines.
The Philippine Esports Organization is the national governing body for esports in the Philippines. It is a member of the International Esports Federation (IESF) since 2012 and is an associate member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) since 2020.
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation Inc. (PNVF), also known as Volleyball Philippines, is the national sport association for volleyball in the Philippines. It is recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).