Age limit for NSA heads below 70 POC pushing for fresh ideas, younger minds,

Ricky Vargas said yesterday they hope the Philippine Olympic Committee’s constitutional amendment prohibiting officials aged 70 years old and above to run for executive positions will be finalized before November’s target election date.

“Ang objective sana is sa November. Wala namang masyadong changes. The only main discussion is the age limit,” he said in the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum held online.

“We want it before the (POC) elections.”

Vargas, who heads the committee on constitution and by-laws, is optimistic despite the long process and believes the constitutional change will strengthen the quality of leadership of the POC.

“It gives a chance for the organization to grow,” he said. “It changes the demographics of the organization. But of course, these younger people should be experienced. And these seniors (who are ineligible to run) can still stay as mentors, consultants, advisors.”

Vargas said they will convene online next week to tackle the issue as they try to bring it up to the Executive Board.

The draft has already been submitted to the committee where they will vote for approval before submitting it to the Board.

After going through that, the issue will be tackled in the General Assembly composed of officials from various national sports associations.

POC president Bambol Tolentino spearheaded this move of having an age requirement, saying that like the International Olympic Committee, the POC must be geared toward having fresh minds in the system.