On December 12, the Management Board of the Polish Olympic Committee (PKOl) surprisingly recommended President Andrzej Duda for membership in the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which triggered considerable comment among the Polish public.
Polish Minister of Sport Sławomir Nitras criticized this decision, suggesting that it might come at the expense of Maja Włoszczowska, the Polish Olympic medalist who holds a strong position in the IOC.
Presidential advisor Łukasz Rzepecki explained that Duda was recommended for honorary IOC membership, which does not interfere with Włoszczowska’s current position.
The athlete has now commented on the matter herself.
Garść wyjaśnień w odpowiedzi na liczne zapytania dotyczące mojej pozycji w MKOl. Wśród członków MKOl jest 15 sportowców...
Opublikowany przez Maja Włoszczowska Niedziela, 15 grudnia 2024
“There are 15 athletes among the members of the IOC (members of the athletes' commission, elected by athletes during the Olympic Games – I am part of this group), 15 representatives of international federations, 15 representatives of national Olympic committees, and a maximum of 70 independent members, whose membership is not dependent on holding any office,” wrote one of the most outstanding Polish mountain bikers.
“A given country can have only one representative in the group of independent members. Every candidacy for IOC membership must be verified by the electoral commission, then approved by the management board, and put to a vote during an IOC session,” Włoszczowska added.
“My term in the athletes’ commission and the related IOC membership ends in 2028. I do not want to speculate at this time about my potential future in the IOC structures, as it is too early for that. For now, I am focusing on working for the athletes and the Olympic movement,” the champion explained.
Maja Włoszczowska is a two-time Olympic silver medalist in mountain biking from Rio de Janeiro (2016) and Beijing (2008), an Olympian from Athens (2004) and Tokyo (2020), MTB World Champion, multiple-time medalist of the European and World Championships in mountain biking, and also a multiple-time Polish champion in cross-country.
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Source: Maja Włoszoczowska/Facebook.com/PR24.pl/X@sport_pr24pl
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