Lopez is widely credited with having overseen the country's successful amateur boxing programme, which saw the team win five gold medals at the Asian Games between 1994 and 2006.

It also produced Mansueto Velasco, who claimed a silver at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the country's last Olympic medal. 

"I am very honoured and grateful to the POC hierarchy, especially President Peping Cojuangco and chairman Monico Puentevella for having the faith and confidence to me to head and run the Olympic campaign of the Philippines in the 2012 London Games," said Lopez, the former President of the Amateur Boxing Association of Philippines (ABAP). 

"I will exert all efforts and experience to make the campaign a success."

The Philippines, with a population of more than 94 million, making it the 12th most popolous country in the world, has not won an Olympic gold medal since making its debut in the Games at Paris in 1924 and having competed in every since, except Moscow in 1980 when they joined the United States-led boycott.

Lopez, the first vice-president of the POC, is now the secretary general of the Philippine Handball Federation. 

He plans to travel to London as soon as possible to coordinate Philippines's preparations for next year.

"London [2012] is already asking questions so I have no choice but to make an appointment," said Cojuangco. 

They sent a team of only 15 athletes to Beijing in 2008 - 10 men and five women - to compete in eight sports but hope to send a bigger squad to London.

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