Mr. Olympia: The next election rather than the big split in the OOC

The current board has been in office since March 2017, but the term has been extended to 2023 due to the postponement of the Tokyo Games. A new election commission will now be formed, and a vote on the new council will take place in September. This democratic decision of the general meeting must be noted, and I expect the same from all concerned. In addition, I also expect everyone to come together again and work together for the sake of the sport,” Stoss said.

Representatives of 40 professional associations plus an IOC member (Stoss) and two representatives of the Athletes’ Committee have the right to vote; Sport Austria and the umbrella organizations ASKÖ, ASVÖ and Sportunion each have one vote. Of a total of 47 electors, all but one of the (fencing) associations were located in a Viennese hotel.

Also present were the representatives of those five federations (swimming, golf, gymnastics, basketball and wrestling) who held the extraordinary general meeting but withdrew the motion for it and for the election on Friday. We resisted this vote because we said we pulled it. I can always withdraw my orders. “I announced it again and said that we will vote under the protest,” said swimming federation president Arnaud Bajic.

A civilized and constructive mood

Participants in the annual general meeting described the mood as civil and constructive. “Nothing below the belt line,” said Marcus Brock. “It was very civil, and I’m very happy about that. Everyone’s commitment to the fact that we have to engage with each other for the sake of sport and talk things out and find solutions has been clearly expressed,” said board member Herbert Huff, who could not say if “There will be legal consequences. We also obtained legal advice beforehand. We hope we don’t have to replace them.”

The election proposal continued to see Stoss as president. Roswitha Stadlober (Ski Austria) and Sonja Spendelhofer (athletics) are listed as vice presidents, and Thomas Reichenauer (wrestling) as vice president. According to the proposal, the council should also consist of members Marcus Bruck (skiing), Gernot Leitner (volleyball), Martin Bueger (judo), Elke Romouch (tennis), Gabriela Jan (gymnastics), Horst Nussbaumer (rowing), Gerald Martens ( basketball) and Arno Pajic (swimming).

Spendelhofer made it clear in an interview with APA that he wants to be on the board of the OOC in the future, but he also said: “I’m very happy to be there and supported where I can. But no one person has that importance, everything has to work. One has to.” Now to look at how to shape the future.” “We have to take with us now all that is positive, and where small repair steps are needed, sit down and talk.” “The mood today was that you two are getting a little closer to each other.”

“Unfortunately it has escalated in the last few weeks.”

The Chairman of the Sportunion, Peter MacDonald, now retired Chairman of the Election Commission, saw his understanding of democracy satisfied by the general meeting and the elections held. “In any case. What could have been saved is that this was discussed in the media,” he told APA. “It is a pity that this conflict could not have been avoided. “Unfortunately, this has escalated in recent weeks.”

The course of the general meeting made him tolerant. We have noticed that democracy, transparency and openness are again at the fore. That was the wish of the members. When President Stoss withdrew his candidacy on this motion, it was clear that the members wanted no further division. But you are fully focused on Paris and the full reorganization will take place after Paris.

It is unclear if Sportunion will send a member to the new election commission. We will discuss this in the umbrella organizations. We still have open arbitration. Because we still believe that if someone hasn’t seen an election proposal, you can’t reject an election proposal with the Election Commission, that still needs to be made clear.”

Put the focus back on the athletes

After the Extraordinary General Meeting, members are now calling for focus on athletes again. “I believe that there is no person, no institution more important than improving the frame conditions for athletes,” said Christian Scherer, General Secretary of the Austrian Ski Federation.

“The primary goal should be to serve the interests of the athletes. Of course, sport should always be at the fore. Unfortunately, this has not been the case for everyone lately.