Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski eager to prove she deserves IOC executive board spot

Mikee proud to represent Filipinas, Asians on IOC executive board
Aug 5, 2020

MIKEE Cojuangco-Jaworski once became the best Asian in her field when she captured a gold medal in the 2002 Busan Asian Games.

Now, Cojuangco-Jaworski is proud to represent Asians once again in her new responsibility as part of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board.

Cojuangco-Jaworski, 46, was recently elected to the powerful IOC Executive Board where important matters in relation to the Olympic movement are decided upon. She was elected alongside Gerardo Werthein of Argentina during the 136th session of the IOC.

“I’m just grateful and all the more, responsibility siya kasi gusto ko ipakita na it’s a place for a Filipina to be in. It’s a place of an Asian to be here. We have a place there and we can contribute very positively at that level,” said Cojuangco-Jaworski a week after her election.

Elected as an IOC member in 2013, Cojuangco-Jaworski has made a mark in the IOC hierarchy being part of the Tokyo Olympics Coordination Commission, just one of the important positions she held.

The daughter of former Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco said her election to the IOC executive board is totally unplanned, saying that she was only encouraged to run after two positions became vacant.

“Hindi ko naman siya inaspire. Siguro, mga two years ago, may mga ilang member na nag-aapproach sa akin na dapat ang goal mo is mapunta ka sa executive board. Kailangang gawin ko ng maayos ‘yung pagiging IOC member pero siyempre nalagay sa isip ko rin ‘yun (IOC executive board), tinanong ko kung kaya ko.”

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“Nung nagkaroon ng dalawang opening sa executive board, may mga mag-approach uli sa akin na sinasabi dalawa ‘yung opening, hindi madalas mangyari ‘yung dalawang opening. Hindi ko alam kung kaya kong manalo. Hindi ko alam kung tama ‘yung timing,” said the daughter-in-law of legendary basketball player Robert Jaworski.

Ninety-two were eligible to vote during the elections, four of whom abstained. Werthein got 30 votes, with Cojuangco-Jaworksi amassing 25, just one ahead of Dagmawit Girmay Berhane of Ethiopia.

Jaworski will now have a say in the policies of the IOC with her election as member of the executive board.

“I compare it to being a member of the board of directors ng isang kumpanya whether its administrative or policy, dumadaan ‘yan sa executive board, but it doesn’t take effect until ratified in the IOC session,” said Jaworski.

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As far as being a female in the body, Jaworski is proud to say that the IOC has been empowering women for a long time, and that culture has also allowed her to grow in the Olympic movement.

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“As far as being a woman in the IOC executive board, napakarami na ang nauna sa akin. Hindi ko masasabi na talagang trailblazer ako. The IOC is very serious about gender equality, gender equity, may effort ang IOC na may female representation. And I’m very proud of that na nagkakaroon din ng maraming opportunity dahil doon sa philosophy ng IOC na ‘yun,” said Jaworski.

“I think it’s very important na ma-realize natin na hindi naman nagko-compete ang men and women. It’s not a competition. Dapat maniwala tayo na all of us are pieces in a puzzle. Hindi natin makukumpleto ‘yun without each other.

“There is a specific role for a man to play. There is a specific role for a woman to play. Hindi lahat ng babae, mas magaling sa lahat. Sa paggawa ng decision, maraming mga ideas and experiences ang men and women na magkaiba pero equally important. Hindi ko sasabihin na para akong man because I’m not and I don’t want to. Para sakain, kung ano ako, ‘yun ang dadalhin ko which actually adds,” said Jaworski.

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She also shares her position to all the Filipinos particularly women, who she feels are capable of following her footsteps in the IOC.

“I hope so,” said Jaworski, when asked if Filipina sports leaders can do the same thing as what she did. “Of course, may mga dynamics for IOC membership. There’s a certain limit for number of individual members. But meron tayong isang Filipina, (Maria Leonor Estampador) she is a member of the IOC communications commission. Meron ding iba,” she said.

“Sana maisip din ng iba na kung ano ‘yung magiging success ko, success natin,” said Jaworski.
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