ATR First: 'Divided' HOC Must Seek New Elections

(ATR) Officials tell Around the Rings the Hellenic Olympic Committee is"divided" in the aftermath of unlawful elections.

A court ruled that the results from February’s votewere declared "void and unlawful" due to the absence of one of the candidates and federation leaders. Spyros Capralos won re-election to the HOC Presidency in February with 14 votes out of a possible 27.

The results were marred due to the sudden hospitalization of challenger Isidoros Kouvelos just before the election. Some in Greece have said that the actions taken by Kouvelos were a political maneuver, not one borne out of a serious health concern. With Kouvelos hospitalized, 13 federations withdrew from the election.

Only a Greek IOC member has the power to call an election for the HOC. Lambis Nikolaou remains an honorary IOC member, meaning the power to call an election rests solely with him.

Greece is also without an IOC member for the first time since the founding of the organization in 1894. Nikolaou retired at age 80 in 2015 ant the IOC has yet to nominate a new member in Greece. Kouvelos and Caparalos are both believed to be jockeying for the nomination.

Nikolaou became interim HOC President as a result of the ruling, and told ATRhe would not comment on the situation immediately. He said that now it is time to speak with the IOC about what's next.

An IOC spokesperson said in a statement toATRthat the body has been informed of the court decision, and is working on next steps needed.

"We are monitoring the situation closely with the NOC especially with regard to the appropriate steps that will have to be taken in accordance with the decision of the Court," the spokesperson added.

The IOC has withheld funding recently from the Kenya National Olympic Committee for an indefinite delay of elections. The spokesperson did not say if Greece could face a similar IOC reprimand for its situation.

Kouvelos said in an email to ATR that his "feelings were mixed" following the Greek court ruling.

"I'm happy that the Council of State justified our position and declared void the elections," Kouvelos said. "On the other hand I am deeply sorry by the fact that the above illegal procedures, divided severely the sports and Olympic movement in Greece.

"The responsible persons for this situation should realize now, that it is more important to keep united the sports movement in the country, than to just looking for personal gains using unlawful methods. I am deeply sure that in the very near future, the HOC members will be asked to vote again, but this time under lawful procedures, keeping the Greek movement on the right track."

Capralos did not return requests for comment today, but ATRunderstands he is seeking new elections as soon as possible to end the dispute.

The court ruling said that 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.

"The meeting of the Plenary Session of the 6th of February was null and void, as it took place in breach of the explicit decision for postponement for reasons of force majeure, taken by Lambis Nikolaou, Honorary member of the IOC for Greece and interim HOC President, which was duly notified to all HOC members," the ruling read.

"The election of Spyros Capralos to the position of HOC President and elections of the other persons to their offices, in that irregular meeting, are null and void and therefore all their appointments are overturned."

A lack of leadership at the HOC could have a ripple effect for the Olympic Movement. The HOC is most importantly responsible for coordinating the beginnings of the Olympic Torch Relay. The PyeongChang 2018 Torch Relay will begin this October. Traditionally the relay starts in Olympia, Greece with a ceremony staged by the HOC.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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