The nationwide Olympic chief Lee Kee-heung stated Wednesday he was not but ready to decide on whether or not to run for his third time period on the helm of the highest sports activities physique, regardless of being given clearance to take action by his personal group this week.
Lee, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), returned dwelling from Switzerland, the place he had attended the World Union of Olympic Cities Sport Summit earlier within the week. He determined to come back dwelling a day sooner than initially scheduled.
Throughout Lee’s absence, the sports activities ministry suspended him from his duties on Monday, a day after a group of presidency inspectors accused the KSOC honcho of a collection of unlawful actions, together with embezzlement and illicit hiring on the high nationwide coaching heart for Olympic athletes. The inspectors stated they might ask police to additional examine the scenario.
Regardless of the suspension, Lee was cleared to run for a 3rd time period by the KSOC’s personal truthful play subcommission on Tuesday.
Lee, 69, was first elected to the highest KSOC put up in September 2016 and gained a second time period in 2021. Per KSOC statutes, its president could run for a second time period with out restrictions, however a bid for a 3rd time period should be authorized by the Fee for Truthful Play in Sport.
He’s nonetheless allowed to run for president whereas suspended. The election is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2025.
Lee has lengthy been anticipated to run for his third consecutive time period however he advised reporters Wednesday he would take his time to make that call.
“I’ve determined to place off that call,” Lee stated at Incheon Worldwide Airport, west of Seoul. “Personally, since I’ve served two phrases, I’ve thought of stepping apart and getting ready for a brand new chapter in my life. I’ve even purchased my retirement dwelling. Nevertheless, I’ll communicate with former KSOC presidents and leaders of regional sports activities federations after which make the choice on my future. Proper now, it is tough for me to remark additional on that.”
When pressed what the timetable will likely be, Lee stated with a smile, “It will not take lengthy.”
Earlier than the subcommission met Tuesday to overview Lee’s bid for the brand new time period, Lee filed for a court docket injunction to nullify the sports activities ministry’s suspension.
Lee was accused by the federal government inspectors of ordering the comfort of job necessities on the Jincheon Nationwide Coaching Heart so as to rent a pal of his daughter’s, and in addition of bypassing an inner report back to decrease the applicant’s wage and changing an official who opposed Lee’s hiring plan.
The federal government inspectors additionally discovered that Lee had authorized a plan to ask the top of a nationwide sports activities governing physique to pay for tools offered to South Korean Olympic athletes, value some 80 million gained ($57,180). The one that made the cost on the KSOC’s behalf was a longtime affiliate of Lee’s and had expressed an curiosity in securing a key place with South Korea’s delegation to the Paris Olympics. The federal government inspectors stated the particular person ended up getting the job he wished.
In keeping with the inspectors, Lee additionally allegedly distributed sponsored items, together with cell phones, footwear and sun shades, to his pals and acquaintances with out maintaining correct information.
When requested about these expenses Wednesday, Lee stated, “I don’t agree with any of those expenses,” earlier than spending the following a number of minutes refuting the federal government’s allegations.
Lee, a member of the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) since 2019, stated he met with IOC officers throughout his European journey. He stated they expressed considerations that the South Korean authorities’s motion towards the KSOC would threaten the autonomy of the Olympic physique.
The IOC’s Olympic Constitution factors out that every one nationwide Olympic committees “should protect their autonomy and resist all pressures of any form, together with however not restricted to political, authorized, spiritual or financial pressures which can forestall them from complying with the Olympic Constitution.”
“I received the impression that they might maintain monitoring the scenario and have some form of discuss with our authorities,” Lee stated.
Lee was elected to the IOC in his capability as president of the KSOC, that means that he should stay as KSOC chief to retain his IOC membership. His IOC time period is about to run out subsequent 12 months regardless.
The age restrict for IOC members is about at 70, and their phrases are to finish on the ultimate day of the 12 months wherein they flip 70. Lee turns 70 in January 2025.
A one-time extension of the time period, for a most of 4 years past 70, might be granted upon advice by the IOC Government Board, however such extensions are largely given to these deemed to have made particular contributions to the Olympic Motion.
The sports activities ministry blasted the KSOC’s determination to clear the trail for Lee on Tuesday, saying it might not rely on the Olympic physique to be truthful and that it will take all obligatory steps to deal with the problem. (Yonhap)
