An Ilonggo sportsman has been appointed by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) as chef de mission of the Philippine delegation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The appointment of Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano Araneta, Jr., 65, was announced by POC president Abraham Tolentino on Aug. 13.
Araneta was grateful to be chosen as chef de mission of Team Philippines.
“It is a great honor to represent the country and our national athletes as the Chef de Mission for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” he said.
“As the chef de mission for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, We look forward to this upcoming campaign as we yearn for our first ever Olympic gold medal,” Araneta further said.
Araneta has been president of the PFF since 2010. Under his term, the Philippine football has become active in the international scene.
Both men and women made history after they were qualified for both the AFC Asian Cup and AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Araneta’s exemplary service to the sport has paved the way for him to be a member of the FIFA Council for term 2019-2023 and the AFC Executive Committee also for term 2019-2023, where he is also the chairperson of AFC Finance Committee.
Ilonggo sportsman Edwin Caro Laru-an cheered the decision to appoint Araneta to lead the country’s team.
“I am very proud that a kasimanwa from Barotac Nuevo will lead the nations best athelete for the Olympics and I am looking forward that we can have the first gold medal in Tokyo,” Laru-an
The football community in Iloilo extends our congratulations to the PFF president,” he added.IMT
