What is a Chef De Mission?
So, I Googled and it says “the person in charge of a national team at an international sports event”.
In charge would mean that he or she takes care of the planning, logistics, communications, among others with the help of a supporting team of coordinators and managers.
Paolo Tancontian, our many-time judo champion who played for our country in the past Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, is currently in Cambodia as Deputy Chef, Chef De Mission.
I am proud and happy that he has taken this role because this will give him the needed experience to eventually become a Chef De Mission, in the future.
Even prior to the SEA Games, Paolo has been doing the leg work in monitoring the athletes, checking on training venues, equipment inventory, uniforms, etc.
Daghan di ay trabahoon.
Paolo also had the chance to attend a seminar on Doping In Sports for additional knowledge. He said he is very grateful to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Bambol Tolentino for giving him the opportunity to serve.
He is also father to two outstanding Sambo athletes, Chino Sy Tancontian and Sydney. Both athletes have continued their Dad’s legacy including their grandfather Nonoy Tancontian, a respected judoka and judo official in Southern Mindanao who was very kind to local sportswriters.
I know Paolo that your Papa Nonoy is very proud of you since you took up the judo as a sport at the age of seven and now as leader of Sambo Pilipinas and of your recent appointment as Deputy Chef De Mission of the Philippine Team to the SEA Games Cambodia.
I am trying to recall if there has been a Dabawenyo named to this important position and it looks like that it is Paolo Tancontian, son of the great Nonoy Tancontian, is the first former national athlete appointed Deputy CDM from the great City of Davao.
Keep up the good work Paolo and make us proud, as always.
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