(ATR) The newly-elected president of the Panama National Olympic Committee tells Around the Rings that he is working with the government to normalize Olympic committee activities in the country following a schism in the leadership of the committee.
Roger Moscote says a major objective for him will be to convince Panamanians and the sporting world of the viability of the NOC following a leadership dispute that began last year.
The problems stem from a Panamanian court ruling in 2006 that invalidated the previous election for the leadership of the COP. Soon after the court ruling a rival faction installed itself as the new NOC, but failed to win recognition of the IOC.
In January, under the blessing of the IOC, another group conducted elections, selecting Moscote as president.
Stepping down as president at the January meeting was Meliton Sanchez, who remains an IOC member and a member of the COP.
“He was not recognized as the great leader he really is,” says Moscote of Sanchez, who had served since 1982 as the NOC president.
Now, with IOC recognition, Moscote his new board have some issues to settle within Panama.
“This dispute has been resolved because we have been officially recognized by IOC, but within the borders of the Republic of Panama, much [has] to be done yet to get back on track [with] normal operations.”
One issue is to restart the flow of Olympic Solidarity funds which were interrupted when the dispute started in August 2006. Moscote says a full audit will be necessary first.
Also, the COP is also in new offices; the former offices are still occupied by the rival faction that says it is the group recognized by Panamanian law.
“We are here as representatives of the Olympic Movement, so therefore, another organization makes absolutely no sense and they cannot do what [the] National Olympic Committee has been trying to do,” says Moscote.
He says Miguel Vanegas, the president of the rival committee, has no role with the COP elected in January.
“Vanegas has to be recognized as the president of the [Panamanian] Judo Organization. If he shows that he is president of judo, then, this is where he can fit into. But that’s about it.”
Moscote is concerned to publicize the ideals of Olympism in Panama and help it recover from the press attention during the schism. He plans work with the Olympic Academy.
Moscote has no doubt in his leadership and will send full teams to both the Pan Am Games and the Beijing Summer Games.
“These Games and our successful participation in them will prove to all that this is the case.”
“I am very confident that the problems we have in Panama will not affect the participation of our best athletes in these Games,” says Moscote.
Últimas Noticias
Brigitte Henriques: “The important thing is that the women who are elected should be chosen for their ability, not because we are looking for modernization in terms of gender”
“When I was a girl I couldn’t find a club to play soccer in because most of them didn’t work with women,” Henriques tells Around the Rings during an in-depth interview in Crete, Greece.
The Hula Report: Winds of Change for ANOC in Crete
New leaders coming for peak Olympic group. Whether other candidates emerge in the months ahead, a contested election for the ANOC presidency will be a first for the organization.
Gilles Gilbert Gresenguet, presidential candidate for AFCNO: “We must take advantage of Paris 2024 to bring the Olympic Games back to French”
The elections take place November 18, and Abakar Djermah Aumi, president of the Chad Olympic Committee, is also aiming to win them.
USOPC announces 613-member 2020 U.S. Olympic Team
Roger Federer pulls out of Tokyo Olympics: "I am greatly disappointed"
(ATR) Federer cites "a setback with my knee" for the decision.
