Inside Story - Verbruggen Staying Put as SportAccord President

(ATR) Despite facing a bid for his SportAccord presidency, Hein Verbruggen tells Around the Rings that he has no plans to step down and hold an election at the 2012 general assembly in Quebec.

"It is not on the agenda which means I have no intention to step down in Quebec," Verbruggen told ATR Thursday, adding: "I am willing to step down before the end of my mandate (2014)."

His comments came after it emerged that International Judo Federation president Marius Vizer wrote to the SportAccord chief this week to nominate himself to succeed Verbruggen. ATR has seen the letter, dated Nov. 7, and Vizer said he has the support of many federations, both Olympic and non-Olympic.

ATR also understands that several other federation leaders have expressed interest in standing for the job as head of the umbrella organization for international federations.

Noting Verbruggen's appeal for candidates to come forward to replace him after being re-elected for a second four-year term at the Sport Accord Congress in London in April, Vizer writes in the letter that he would be willing to take over the presidency "as early as next year".

"I would like to inform you and all our colleagues from the international federations, that I am ready to put myself at the disposal of Sport Accord as its president," writes Vizer, who was elected as head of the IJF in 2007.

"Under my leadership, the International Judo Federation has undertaken a massive development process that has evolved positively in all domains. I believe that with my experience, I can successfully continue the work that you have put into Sport Accord," the Romanian adds.

"I can bring value and am willing to dedicate my capacities, effort, energy and time for the continued success and growth of Sport Accord together with the family of the international sports."

Speaking to ATR Thursday, Vizer said that while he had significant support from Olympic and non-Olympic federations in his bid to become SportAccord president, the letter to Verbruggen was simply the first step in his campaign.

"I don't want to force anything. I just made a proposal. I want to follow natural procedures in that direction," he said.

Verbruggen had hoped someone would replace him at the congress last April in London, but no candidates came forward; he was elected by acclamation for another term. He urged the representatives of more than 100 international federations gathered at the general assembly to seek other candidates to take over from him. "That can be next year, the year after, but I have no ambition to be president for another four years," he said.

Following Vizer's approach, the 70-year-old former UCI president appears to have changed his mind on the timetable for succession. The two have spoken and Verbruggen said he welcomes the interest in succeeding him.

"If people are interested to be a candidate to succeed me in the future that is wonderful," he said.

Verbruggen said he has his own timetable to stepping aside but he has no plans to do so in the year of the London Olympics because he is too busy overseeing a range of major SportAccord projects.

"We have now a huge operation with 20 staff, that is a responsibility also. I don't want these people in confusion and turmoil, which means I have no intention to step down next year," he added.

"We are working on a number of huge projects. I know the majority of federations don't want me to.

"It is good that Mr Vizer has ambitions to do things as soon as possible but I don't think it would be a good thing to step down now."

Verbruggen has plenty on his plate at the moment. SportAccord's first Mind Games is staged next month in Beijing. He said there is significant interest in the inaugural event that brings together the 250 best players in a 5 so-called mind sports that includes chess and bridge.

After that, SportAccord is planning to hold the first Artistic Games, combining sport and music, by the end of 2012. This will be followed by the inaugural Beach Games in South America and the second Combat Games in St. Petersburg, both in 2013.

Verbruggen said SportAccord's workload also includes improving its services to federations, with more work being carried out to combat illegal betting and match-fixing as well as a major focus on anti-doping. SportAccord currently employs four full-time staff in its anti-doping department to assist federations in becoming compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency's code.

Verbruggen took over SportAccord on an interim basis in 2004 when the organization was known as GAISF. He served as president of the international cycling federation (UCI) and as a member of the IOC until 2005. He returned to the IOC a year later to finish serving as chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for Beijing.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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