INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board Member Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski is always one of the nicest personalities in sports.

Despite her stature as the first Asian woman to be elected to the IOC executive board and accomplishments as one of the country’s leading equestriennes, she remains simple and down-to-earth through the years.

At TOPS “Usapang Sports on Air”, she gamely answered all the questions given to her from sports, politics and yes, even showbiz.

If someone were to make a movie about your life, who would you hope would play you?

“Oh my God! Pinagpawisan yata ako sa question na yan. Hindi ko alam kung sino exactly ang gusto kong mag-play na ako.What stage of my life? Gaano ka-bata? Parang ang haba naman ng hair ko pag sinabi ko, pero isa sa mga favorites ko si Kathryn Bernardo.”

If the next President to be elected next year offers you to become the next chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), would you be interested?

“I don’t think that will happen. I never thought about it. I never imagine it. It’s really a very big and important role and it carries a lot of responsibilities because you will be handling government funds. But well, that’s an interesting question. Siguro ngayon naitanong na sa akin, pag-iisipan ko na. But honestly. I think I also have to check with the IOC if it’s something that they are OK with.

I have not discussed it with the IOC. But you know there are a lot of issues regarding government interference. But definitely, please remember that government intervention is very different from government interference.”

Do you have somebody on mind who could take the top position in the PSC if they ask you to recommend?

“It’s really the prerogative of the next President of the Philippines.The next sports leaders will serve as the pleasure of the President. Sa Tokyo, madalas kaming magkasama nila PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez and (POC) President Cong. Bambol and secretary-general Atty. Ed (Gastanes). Napag-uusapan nga namin na sana yung mga magandang nagawa ng current PSC administration, ipagpatuloy sinuman ang mailagay sa position. So I guess we just have to wait.”

What can you say about the suggestions of some sports officials to merge the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Paralympic Committee and follow the system in the United States?

“I think it is a very great gesture to show the importance that we give to all our athletes, including our para-athletes. Malapit ang puso ko sa Paralympic movement, so kung gagawin yun, I will not oppose it. But I think the capabilities of the US are different from the capabilities of the Philippines. So, kailangan talagang pag-aralan din kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng pag-merge. Pero right now, hindi pa napag-uusapan yan.”

Can you give us an insight on how the IOC handled the problem with AIBA (International Boxing Federation), which was suspended?

“I think AIBA was suspended by the IOC for about a year before 2020. The IOC formed a task force, headed by Morinari Watanabe of Japan, who is also the president of gymnastics. Even the qualifying competitions were run by this task force. Most of those who watched the boxing competitions in Tokyo are satisfied with the results. The IOC position is that we should have boxing events inTokyo kahit pa suspended ang AIBA. But the IOC cannot run the show forever. Kailangan magkaroon sila ng maayos na IF.”

Is there a possibility that the Philippines can also host the Asian Games in the future given that we already have a world-class stadium in Clark?

“It’s always an honor to be able to welcome the international sports community to our country. But I’ll leave that to the experts and the people who are in-charge to decide. As far as the IOC is concerned, there’s always a guidance given to potential hosts. I’m not sure about Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).”

How many athletes are expected to represent the country in the Winter Olympics in Beijing next year?

“When I last talked to Cong. Bambol, he told me there could be two athletes for Winter Olympics. For me, sana lang mas madami.”

Will the IOC finally allow spectators in the Winter Olympics in Beijing?

“I guess the IOC will have to look at the COVID situation before the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Of course, we all want to have spectators. In Tokyo, they decided at the last-minute that there will be no spectators as part of safety measures.Sa China, ganun din. The Chinese government will have to decide.”

What can you say about sports as an important part of nation-building?

“When I was young, naabutan ko pa ang Department of Education, Culture and Sports, or DECS. Kahit pa-paano, kasama ang sports sa school system. Ngayon hindi na gaano. But I really believe in the personality development capacity of sports. I believe in nation-building capacity of sports. Kung employer ako, siguro ang hahanapin ko yun atleta kasi alam ko marunong talaga siyang mag-trabaho, marunong siyang sumunod sa rules. Marunong siya sa fair play. But it’s one thing to say let’s get everybody into sports and it’s another to say let’s be competitive around the world.

When it comes to international competitiveness, that’s where the POC and the NSAs can come in.”

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