Time is up from the IOC to the Court of Guatemala; Executive Commission will discuss possible suspension on September 8

Hours before the expiration of the term given by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to the Guatemalan Constitutional Court to lift the provisional suspension of the Guatemalan Olympic Committee (COG), the International Gymnastics Federation of Guatemala said the Olympic Movement there suffers from “political interference.”

Three weeks ago the IOC warned about the confirmation of the provisional decision made by the Constitutional Court regarding the statutes and rules of the COG that would mean “a breach of the Olympic Charter.”

“Therefore, it is expected that this provisional decision will be lifted after the hearing no later than August 31, 2022 and otherwise there would be no other option but to refer it to the IOC Executive Board for appropriate action according to the Rule 27.9 of the Olympic Charter,” warned the letter.

“We sincerely hope that reason prevails,” the message stated.

On August 23, the Court, which considers itself the guarantor of Guatemala’s constitutional order, did not back down from its position, and in a 3-2 vote of its five magistrates did not revoke the temporary protection invalidating the election of the current recognized COG leaders by the IOC.

According to the agenda announced this Wednesday by the IOC, its Executive Commission in its two-day meeting, would examine the Guatemala Case on September 8 in the section “Report on the National Olympic Committees.”

“Unfortunately, Guatemala will be suspended,” a source close to the Olympic Movement predicted to Around The Rings.

Another source commented “there was no sign today August 31″ the legal decision annulling the COG Executive Committee election would be reviewed again at the last minute.

“We are fully aware of the various judicial decisions,” an IOC spokesperson told ATR last week, anticipating the Executive Commission would take charge of the case if the August 31 deadline was met without the Guatemalan Court rectifying its position.

On Thursday, August 4, 2022, the Constitutional Court granted a temporary protection requested by the Federated Sports Electoral Tribunal and annulled the election of March 24, 2022, which gave the group led by Gerardo Aguirre as the winner, backed by the IOC and Panam Sports.

In the event the provisional protection is confirmed and becomes definitive, the COG will be led by former soccer player Jorge Rodas, whose election of him and his group is not recognized by the IOC after the votes of October 9, 2021.

It is not clear if a presumed disaffiliation of the COG by the IOC next week could harm the hosting of the Central American Games in Guatemala and Costa Rica to open on October 27.

The president of the IOC Thomas Bach often reiterates it will never be the goal of the Olympic body to harm athletes, so some compromise is not ruled out to preserve the regional Games.

Another unfortunate consequence would be that Guatemalan athletes would continue to compete internationally but not represent their COG.

This Thursday, September 1, the Central American Sports Organization (ORDECA) has called a meeting of its members of the Executive to analyze the situation surrounding the Central American Games.

The call will take place in Santiago de Chile after the Panam Sports General Assembly has closed.

With less than two months until the opening ceremony of the Central American Games, there would no longer be time for an emerging venue to save the Games in which more than 2,300 athletes would participate in 24 sports from seven nations: Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.

ATR confirmed the Panam Sports forum was attended on behalf of the COG by its current president, Gerardo Aguirre.

This Wednesday, a letter from a new International Federation, the Gymnastics Federation, chaired by the IOC member Morinari Watanabe of Japan, about what is happening in Guatemalan sports, was also known.

In the letter addressed to Aguirre and the head of the Guatemalan Gymnastics Federation, Watanabe stated he wanted to share “my deep concern regarding political interference in COG affairs. The FIG will follow this case very closely and will act accordingly,” to the decisions issued by the IOC.”

“We all hope that common sense prevails and that a positive solution is found for the good of all Guatemalan athletes and the Olympic movement,” said Watanabe, who recently visited Guatemala where he received a “warm welcome” as mentioned in his message.