POC names Jonvic Remulla as Philippines' chef de mission to 2024 Paris Olympics

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has named Cavite governor Jonvic Remulla as Team Philippines' new chef de mission for the Paris Olympics next year.

Remulla is the honorary chairman of the Philippine Rowing Association and team manager of the University of the Philippines men’s basketball team.

And while Remulla is not a head of a national sports association (NSA), POC president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino said there is precedent for the appointment as former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo served as the chef de mission in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games hosted here in Manila.

Remulla will be replacing Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio, who had to decline the task for Paris due to a hectic calendar.

“We understand Al’s [Panlilio] situation so we decided to appoint a new CDM for the Paris Olympics, somebody who has a great passion for sports, a true sportsman, somebody who has leadership, a workhorse and that’s Governor Jonvic [Remulla],” Tolentino said.

“The POC wanted a dedicated sportsman or personality who could live up to the responsibilities and obligations as CDM to Paris."

Aside from Remulla, POC also appointed Wrestling Association of the Philippines president Alvin Aguilar as chef de mission to the World Combat Games in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Philippine Rugby Football Union head Ada Milby for the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon Province, South Korea.

The Paris Olympics will be held from July 26 to August 11 in 2024.

The World Combat Games, meanwhile, are set to take place from October 21 to 30 this year while the Winter Youth Olympics are scheduled for January 19 to February 1 next year.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News