Veteran Filipino boxing referee Arturo Vidal has been chosen as a member of the 35-man panel that will officiate in the coming Athens Olympic Games which local boxing officials said boosted our chances of winning a medal in the Olympics.
Vidal passed a stringent one-week seminar conducted by the International Boxing Association in Abu Dhabi along with 34 others from a field of 52.
Vidal’s selection was relayed to Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines president Manny Lopez by AIBA president, Prof. Anwar Chowdry, and Dr. Ismail Osman, the world body’s chair of its referees and judges commission.
Lopez welcomed Vidal’s selection saying it is proof that the Philippines is recognized by the international federation as having referees capable of officiating under international standards.
At the same time, Lopez said that with Vidal hobnobbing with other officials, the Philippines should not be in the receiving end of questionable referees decisions.
"Definitely, Vidal’s selection puts an end to our strained relationship with the federation. But more importantly, medyo gumanda ang tsansa nating ma-break ang medal draught natin sa Sydney," Lopez said.
"With his presence in the officiating group, he will have a chance to establish rapport with his fellow referees and judges na kailangan ng ating mga boksingero para magkaroon ng parehas na tawagan, bagay na hindi natin nakuha noong mga nakaraang Olympics," he explained.
