Kejval is again the president of the Czech Olympic Committee. The Electoral Plenum elected four Vice-presidents and the Executive Committee:

Kejval is again the president of the Czech Olympic Committee. The Electoral Plenum elected four Vice-presidents and the Executive Committee:

Czech Team
Czech Team
4 minutes of reading
4 minutes of reading

The Czech Olympic Committee has a new President. Jiří Kejval, who first became the head of the Czech Olympic Committee in 2012, will lead it for the next four years. The Plenary of the COC decided in an e-voting process. The current chairman was supported by 82 votes, which equals 65.1% of the total 126 votes. Libor Varhaník, his opponent and the current Vice-president of the COC, received 44 votes. The election was held with 100% participation of delegates.

Kejval outlined the four basic points of further direction on which the sporting environment agrees. "The first point is coaches for the clubs and the second point is sports venues," he enumerated. "The next point is related to that which is to have healthy children so that movement becomes part of their lifestyle. We would also like to get science into elite sport. That's what we have to go for."

Libor Varhaník, the head of the Czech Athletic Association, has also been the Vice- President of the Czech Athletics Federation since 2012. He will remain in this position. In addition to his candidacy for President, he has also announced his interest in the position of Vice President. "Congratulations to Jiří Kejval. I am happy to have been elected vice-president and I want to continue without a doubt with the programme I have presented. The fact that I have received such support fills me with faith that my programme has appealed to the delegates. I look forward to working in the new team," he said.

In addition to Varhanik, Roman Kumpošt continues in the role of Vice-president for External Relations. Marek Pakosta, President of the Czech Volleyball Federation, who is also on the European Volleyball Board, was newly elected. Zbyněk Sýkora, President of the Czech Paralympic Committee, became the last Vice-president.

Five women in the leadership

A new Executive Committee was also elected. On the proposal of the Olympic sports federations, it will include Jan Bloudek (Czech Climbing Federation), Šárka Drozdová (Czech Handball Federation), Petr Fousek (Czech Football Association), Olga Plachá (Czech Equestrian Federation), Petr Ryška (Czech Swimming Federation), Gabriel Waage (Czech Softball Association), Michal Ježdík (Czech Basketball Federation), Jan Boháč (Czech Canoe Federation), Milan Hnilička (Czech Ice Hockey Federation) and Karolína Frederiksen (Czech Curling Federation).

The other members are representatives of the COC components. The plenary elected Šárka Strachová (Czech Fair Play Club), Pavel Bence (Czech Olympic Club), Alexander Kliment (Czech Olympic Academy), Zdeněk Hanik (Czech Coaching Academy), Filip Šuman (Czech Club of Sports Associations, Organisations and Institutions / Czech Floorball), Rostislav Filgas (Czech Club of Sports Associations, Organisations and Institutions / Czech Dance Sport Association). Nikol Kučerová, Chair of the Athletes' Commission, is automatically a member of the COC Executive Committee.

Petr Ditrich (Czech Baseball Association) became the Chairman of the Control Commission, David Špinar became the Vice-Chairman and Jiří Adam (Czech Olympic Club) became a member. Two more members will be allowed next year.

There was a high interest in the elections for the Czech Olympic Committee.  Two candidates ran for the position of President. Ten representatives were seeking the role of Vice- President. And a total of 31 candidates stood for positions on the COC Executive Committee. There was also an increase in the number of women seeking to join the top positions of the COC, totalling five.

Jaroslav Pollert became an honorary member of the COC. The scientist, university lecturer and expert in the field of hydrodynamics, three-time world champion in water slalom has been for many years also the honorary chairman of the Czech Canoe Association and a member of the Executive Committee of the Czech Olympic Committee. He has also been involved in the International Canoe Federation for a long time. The Czech Mini Golf Federation and the Czech SURF and SUP Federation were then accepted by the Plenum as new members of the COC.

Approval of budgets

The Plenary also approved the evaluation of the COC budget for 2024 and the draft budget for this year. "The proposal is slightly plus with costs and revenues of just under 208 million crowns," said Libor Varhanik, vice-chairman responsible for economics.

Ondřej Šebek, head of the National Sports Agency, also attended the Electoral Plenary. He thanked the plenary members and outlined future steps. "Let me, on behalf of myself and the NSA, thank everyone for their work for sport. It is an extremely important job," he recounted. "The State is continuously trying to improve the conditions for sport and your work - not only by increasing funding but also by setting some principles. A major focus needs to be put on support to coaches in clubs. We can't just rely on volunteer work in the long term."

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