POC urges NSAs to lobby for wild-card berths in Rio Olympics

NATIONAL sports associations (NSAs) should start lobbying their respective international federations (IF) for wild-card spots for Filipino athletes in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Philippine Olympic Committee first vice president Joey Romasanta made this suggestion yesterday amid fears that fewer than half a dozen Filipino athletes might eventually make it to the national contingent for the Summer Games.

To date, only one athlete—Filipino-American 400-meter hurdler Eric Cray— has booked a berth in the Games after surpassing the Olympic standard during an IF-sanctioned race in the Cayman Is- lands early this year.

Romasanta urged NSAs of Olympic disciplines to request for so-called “universality places,” or commonly called wild cards, from their federations.

“Better begin now. They (NSAs) must convince their IFs that Filipino athletes deserve to be in the Olympics,” said Romasanta, the country’s chef de mission for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, slated Aug. 5 to 21 next year.

All POC-recognized NSAs operate under the supervision of their respective IF, which acts as the world governing body of the sport.

These IFs usually grant wild-card berths to countries whose athletes have minimal chances of qualifying for the Olympics.

Romasanta said several international qualifying tournaments are scheduled next year where Filipino athletes could vie for Olympic spots.

He said the Philippines is looking to bring more athletes to Rio de Janeiro than the 11 who saw action in the 2012 London Games.