The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) — upon request from the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) —will supervise elections for the national sports association for volleyball later this month.
POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said the POC will be hands-on in the electoral process that is set either in the third or fourth week of January.
The FIVB, through its Director-General Fabio Azevedo, wrote Mr. Tolentino for the second time on Dec. 7 to reiterate the international federation’s desire for Philippine volleyball to hold elections. The FIVB first wrote the POC chief in August last year.
“There was already a request from the FIVB some time ago to hold a volleyball election before the FIVB’s general assembly this February,” Mr. Tolentino said. “Without a legitimate NSA, we cannot send national teams to FIVB-sanctioned tournaments abroad.”
Neither the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) nor the Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) is recognized by the FIVB.
“Therefore, we will ask all volleyball stakeholders to cooperate and participate in the elections,” said Mr. Tolentino after the POC Executive Board held its first meeting for 2021 at the East Ocean Garden Restaurant in Pasay City.
The FIVB, Mr. Azevedo furthered in his December letter, wanted a Philippine volleyball body to be formed before its World Congress that will be staged online from Feb. 5 to 7.
“We would also like to take this opportunity to kindly ask you to schedule a date as soon as possible for these democratic elections with the participation of all relevant stakeholders,” wrote Mr. Azevedo, who also congratulated Mr. Tolentino for his reelection as POC head.
“The FIVB wanted to recognize a legitimate volleyball NSA before its world congress. It’s urgent,” Mr. Tolentino, also a sitting congressman representing the eighth district of Cavite, stressed.
Mr. Tolentino said a committee will be created to supervise the volleyball NSA elections.
