Monday, July 12, 2010

Dance sport now closer to Olympics?

OFFICIALS of the International Dance Sport Federation based in Switzerland are looking forward to the inclusion of dance sport in the Olympic Games.
“We were successful with the International Olympic Committee in 2004 when the IOC approved IDSF’s status as a recognized federation. Now we will be more successful in our goal to finally become an Olympic event,” they said, brimming with hope.
“The sport of dance has indeed made great strides worldwide,” said Becky Garcia, long-time president of the Dance Sport Council of the Philippines, the only dance sport organization recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee.
“Dance sport is not only included in the Southeast Asian Games, but also in this year’s Asian Games hosted by Guangzhou, China, in November. And, pretty soon, in the Olympics,” added the petite Garcia, the Philippines’ “Lambada Queen.”
The IOC has recognized IDSF because of the worldwide popularity of dance sport or ballroom dancing as it is called in society circles, and IDSF’s compliance with the IOC’s high qualifying standards.
But to further strengthen its bid for inclusion in future Olympics, the IDSF must now intensify its work for compliance with all IOC criteria, including strict anti-doping control, strong television and media campaign, increased children’s participation and better working relations with the country’s respective National Olympic Committee, which is the POC in our case.
Each IDSF member-federation is required to join the NOC of that country, or if it is a member already, it should work to solidify its relationship with its NOC.
“We have no problem with our own Olympic committee, headed by Mr. Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco,” said Ms. Garcia, president of the organizing “DSCP Midyear Ranking and Competition” on Saturday, July 17, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. “As a matter of fact, the POC is one of our sponsors.”
She stressed that the DSCP is staging the dancefest to show to the world that the Philippines is committed to stay in the international dance scene, including the desire to eventually make the Olympics.
The event will also help the council identify the country’s best bets for three coming major regional tournaments, namely the Asian Pacific Dance Sport Championship in South Korea in August, Asian Dance Championship in Macau on October and the 16th Asian Games on November in Guangzhou, China, where the Philippines’ chief of mission, Joey Romasanta, predicted a gold-medal finish for the Filipino dance athletes.
Sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Jardine Distribution’s Solignum-Optimumflex-Klerat, Trust Trade, Vitug Beach Resort, PCSO, NU107, Savannah Moon, Water Zone and Studio 116, some 366 dance athletes from all over the nation are seeing action.
To insure honest and fair officiating, seven International Dance Sport Federation (IDSF) licensed adjudicators from the Czech Republic, Spain, Japan, Macau, Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong are arriving to judge the competitions.
Assisting Ms. Garcia, are members of the DSCP board—lawyer Noel Laman, chair; lawyer Manette Agbayani, secretary general; Gloria Alcala, treasurer; and directors lawyer. Andy Fornier, Marvie Cojuangco-Yulo, Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, Edward Hayco, Chona Mercado, Nanette Mendoza, Emma Nieto, Rebecca Jose, Victoria Alix, Marge Vitug and Girme Gutierrez.
Tickets are now available at the Dance Sport Training Center, Philsports Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City and at the entrance of the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on opening day. For inquiries, call Anna or Lorien at 6350116.

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