IOC, PanamSports Monitor Peruvian Olympic Elections

(ATR) Former Pan American Sports Organization secretary general Jimena Saldaña is in Lima as an observer of the Peruvian Olympic Committee's electoral assembly that seeks to end the political infighting that has slowed the NOC’s progress in recent months.

Saldaña is observing the election of the COP’s next president on behalf of both the International Olympic Committee and PanamSports, a sign of the concern that leaders of these two bodies have for the situation affecting the COP. The current COP leadership faces government sanctions for allegations of corruption that the leaders vehemently deny.

The IOC and PanamSports hope to get the Peruvian Olympic movement back on track, especially given the country’s upcoming international hosting responsibilities. First, a Local Organizing Committee led by Peruvian IOC member Iván Dibós must prepare for a landmark IOC Session taking place from Sep. 13-17 in the capital of Lima.

This Session could be the first instance of a dual Olympic award in a time of peace as the IOC considers dividing the 2024 and 2028 Summer Games between Los Angeles and Paris. The City of Lima expects approximately 1,500 people to attend the Session, with a commitment from French President Emmanuel Macron to attend and the possibility of an appearance from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Secondly, in July 2019, Lima will also host the Pan American and Parapan American Games. The Lima 2019 Organizing Committee is lagging behind on its construction progress as major works including the Pan American Athletes Village have yet to begin.

If internal conflicts within the COP persist, both of these events could suffer.

In order for the elections at the COP Assembly on Wednesday to be valid, according COP statutes, 75 percent of the national sports federations that are included in the Olympic Program must ratify the election.

Peruvian sources tell Around the Rings that there is only one list of candidates for the new COP Executive Board. Nominees on a secondary ballot were declared "not applicable" for submitting the documentation past the deadline.

According to reports, there have been challenges to the list of valid candidates headlined by former president of the Peruvian Karate Federation Pedro del Rosario who is the only presidential candidate. The COP hopes these objections will be resolved during the Assembly in which IOC member Dibós is also expected to attend.

The uncertainty of the COP was compounded when its president, José Quiñones, resigned in January following accusations by a congressman of embezzlement of funds within the COP for the organization of the Bolivian Games in 2013.

Quiñones was suspended in December for five years by the Supreme Council of Sports Justice and Sports Honors (CSJDHD) for alleged irregularities in the accounts. His appeal to the court of sport was upheld allowing the case to continue in an ordinary court.

Similarly, COP Secretary Francisco Boza, an Olympic silver medalist at Los Angeles 1984, was the highest political leader of Peruvian sport until 2014. He resigned from his position following an alleged link to a corruption case related to the business of a former adviser to President Ollanta Humala (2011-2016). Boza strongly rejects the accusations.

As long as a smooth transition happens at the COP election June 28, Kuwait will remain the sole National Olympic Committee that is suspended by the IOC due to the interference of its government.

Written by Miguel Hernandez and translated by Kevin Nutley.

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