Faced with the conflict in Guatemala, the IOC clarifies that “the case is closed” and supports the current National Olympic Committee

While waiting for the decision of the Constitutional Court of Guatemala on the uncovered conflict in the local Olympic movement, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ratified its support for the current National Olympic Committee (NOC).

In exclusive statements to Around The Rings, the IOC has established its position at a time when the confrontation in the courts has been reactivated. The crisis that originated six months ago seemed resolved after the recommendations made by the Olympic body that led to new elections and new statutes in the Guatemalan Olympic Committee (COG).

“The Elective General Assembly of the NOC of Guatemala was successfully held on March 24, 2022, in strict adherence to the Olympic Charter and the NOC Statutes, and in the presence of observers from the IOC and Panam Sports,” confirmed an IOC spokesperson.

“The IOC and Panam Sports have formally recognized the election results. Consequently, as far as we are concerned, the case is closed.”

The outcome of the conflict is awaiting the ruling of the Constitutional Court, the instance where the dispute has reached after the Electoral Court of Federated Sports (Tedefe) ignored the new COG executive.

A decision by this highest court contrary to the Guatemalan Olympic Committee and also against the position of the IOC, could threaten the country’s participation in the main competitions of the Olympic cycle.

Around The Rings has reviewed the statutes of the Central American Sports Organization (ORDECA) and the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (Centro Caribe Sports), and in both organizations it is law that no National Olympic Committee that is not recognized by the IOC can participate in the corresponding regional Games, nor organize them.

The ORDECA Central American Sports Games from October 27 to November 13, 2022 have Costa Rica and Guatemala as co-sponsors.

On March 24, the winning list of the elections was that of Gerardo Aguirre, the president of the COG in the last Olympic cycles. Aguirre received congratulations from the IOC at the time. Two observers, one from the IOC, the Dominican Luis Mejía, and another from Panam Sports, the Argentine Mario Moccia, witnessed the development of that voting day.

The IOC had ignored the COG Executive Board that had declared itself the winner in controversial elections last October due to what was considered a “lack of transparency.” The IOC also suggested the COG stop depending on an external entity such as the Electoral Court of Federated Sports, according to statements by Aguirre published at the time by Around The Rings.

In those elections, Aguirre was vetoed by Tedefe for alleged problems with resource management. According to the director, it was shown that they were false accusations. The veto against Aguirre meant the list led by former soccer player Jorge Rodas was the only one that applied and won with nine valid votes and 28 null votes, out of 37 accredited voters.

In a statement, Tedefe has affirmed it is the only legally constituted body who can declare the nullity of an electoral process in sport, and has challenged the new COG executive and the IOC notifications. For his part, Rodas is formally requesting to be sworn in as the new president of the Guatemalan Olympic Committee instead of Aguirre.

The Guatemalan Olympic Committee announced criminal actions against Tedefe “for the possible commission of the crimes of prolongation of functions, abuse of authority and resolutions that violate the Constitution, among others.”