Lopez is PHL's chief of mission for 2012 Olympics

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) first vice president Manny Lopez has been appointed as the country's chief of mission for the 2012 London Olympics. The former Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) president will oversee the country's preparations for the Olympics. The POC made the appointment in their general assembly on Wednesday at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City. POC president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco Jr. said that London Olympics organizers have already began communicating with the participating countries that is why the chief of mission for the Olympics has already been named this early. Cojuangco also said that Lopez, who is currently an official of the Philippine Handball Federation (PHF), will also supervise the country's participation in Olympic qualifying events. Meanwhile, the POC has also named Julian Camacho and Romeo Magat as deputy chief of mission for the 2011 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Indonesia. Camacho and Magat are secretary generals of the wushu and tennis national sports associations (NSA), respectively. "They (Camacho and Magat) will also oversee the monitoring of the athletes. I know that the two are hardworking men," said Cojuangco. The POC decided to keep canoe kayak head Dr. Sim Chi Tat as the only chief of mission after Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Chito Loyzaga gave up the post because of his various commitments with the government sports agency. In other news, the POC has officially recognized shooting president Mikee Romero and karate head Dr. Enrico Vazquez. – Reuben Terrado, JVP, GMA News