(ATR) Isidoros Kouvelos concedes his challenge for the Hellenic Olympic Committee Presidency, paving the way for elections this week.
Kouvelos’ withdrawal means that Spyros Capralos will run unopposed for the HOC Presidency, confirming a third term for the incumbent. Elections will be held on Oct. 20, four days before the lighting of the 2018 Olympic Flame in Olympia. A Greek court ruled earlier this year that the February HOC elections took place under unlawful circumstances and annulled them.
Nearly half of Greek national sport federations withdrew from the election after Kouvelos was hospitalized on the eve of the assembly. Capralos declared victory after receiving the 14 remaining votes, which would have been just enough for a majority.
The court ruling said that Honorary IOC Member Lambis Nikolaou did attempt to postpone the election, which was ignored by the voting federations in February. In addition, two new national federations, climbing and karate, "had a legitimate interest to appeal" the election results having been invited to participate despite no prior approval. That decision confirmed 13 federations, which withdrew from the elections.
"I welcome with satisfaction the letter of Mr. Isidoros Kouvelos addressed to the Minister of Sport, Mr. Georgios Vasileiadis, so that the administrative impasse within HOC comes to an end," Capralos said in a statement given to Greek media. "An impasse, which has caused nothing but problems, has tarnished the image of the country abroad and has hindered our athletes’ preparation in view of the major international sport contests.
"It is always in a spirit of consent and cooperation that I like to work; before the major problems that Greek sport faces, it is my firm belief that there is room for everyone."
According to two people with knowledge of the situation, Capralos and Kouvelos met this weekend in Tarragona, Spain on the sidelines of the Mediterranean Games General Assembly. There Kouvelos agreed to send an open letter to Minister Vasileiadis allowing for elections to happen before the lighting ceremony.
A number of conditions led to a compromise being reached to unite the HOC through the appointment of administrative positions for supporters of Kouvelos. Those positions will be the HOC Vice-Presidency, the President of the International Olympic Academy, and President of the HOC Olympic Preparation Commission.
Another roadblock that was cleared through reconciliation was that Nikolaou would call elections if a compromise was reached. Previous statues stated that only a Greek IOC member could call for new elections. Since Greece has been without an IOC member, only Honorary Member Nikolaou could call new elections.
A new plan was proposed by the Greek Parliament would pass a new law to have an independent judge appointed to oversee elections, a plan endorsed by the IOC. Around the Rings understands that the appointment of an independent judge would have happened after the lighting ceremony.
"The IOC is pleased that an agreement has been found and looks forward to the resolution of the issue with the elections that are due to take place on Friday," an IOC spokesperson said to ATR about the upcoming elections.
The resolution of elections will pave the way for the nomination of a future Greek IOC member. Greece, for the first time, has been without a member since 2015 when Nikolaou reached the mandatory age limit for retirement. Capralos is believed to be a contender for membership. The next opportunity for a member to be appointed is at the 2018 IOC Session in PyeongChang.
Written by Aaron Bauer
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