In a board meeting, the Austrian Olympic Committee (ÖOC) discussed reports from the election committee on the possible election proposal and expressed its mistrust of the committee!
“We will set up a new electoral committee in June. This will develop a proposal for election and present it to a general meeting in autumn for a resolution,” said ÖOC President Karl Stoss. Elections are to take place this year. “An absolute abuse of trust!” That was very, very irritating for all of us and also led to this loss of trust,” Stoss continued. With 12 out of 14 votes, the vote of no confidence was clear. “It is an absolute abuse of trust if you try to put pressure on the media from set facts.” The athletes’ commission responded with a letter to the election commission, saying that the wishes were not taken into account. “For us as ÖOC and me as ÖOC President, the well-being of the athletes is the top priority. Interests must be represented when it comes to a new composition of the Executive Board.”Athletes’ Commission felt compelled to actThe proposal for the Executive Board elections of the Austrian Olympic Committee (ÖOC), which became known in the media on June 14th, prompted the Athletes’ Commission to act last Wednesday. Specifically, it was about the under-representation of the winter sports associations and the determination of the vice presidents. Roswitha Stadlober (ski), Gernot Leitner (volleyball) and Gerald Martens (basketball) have already been named as Vice Presidents. With Ski Austria President Stadlober and Toboggan Association President Markus Prock, there were only two representatives of winter sports associations on the board. Matthias Guggenberger, the chairman of the athletes’ commission, had said: “If you look at the medal statistics, that’s not the best way.” “Not the time for great experiments!” “Harmony and unity” to the outside as ÖOC need. The European Games are on the agenda in a few weeks, followed by two Olympic Youth Games and the ANOC World Beach Games before the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. “It is not the time for great experiments. But of course we will vote this year, there is no doubt about that.” According to Stoss, athletes should also be represented on the election committee. “So that your voice is really heard.” Chairman of the current election committee is Sportunion-President Peter McDonald, representatives of ASKÖ and ASVÖ as well as four professional associations also belong to the commission.McDonald: “Rejecting a good election proposal is absurd!” election proposal that would have doubled the number of female members on the Executive Board and would have generally rejuvenated and renewed it. The electoral commission drew up this proposal unanimously and it would have been broadly accepted by the general meeting,” said McDonald. By dismissing the election commission, the old board has prevented its own deselection, at least for the time being. “Rejecting a good election proposal just because it has already been made public by the media is absurd.”
