For Francisco Torres Hadathy, director of golf in Ecuador, “what has to happen” is that the new main table of the COE is recognized, “period.”
In the opinion of Francisco Torres Hadathy, president of the Ecuadorian Golf Federation and second member of the board of directors elected in September by Jorge Delgado Panchana for the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee (COE), “the situation is uncomfortable and unfair” faced by the new leadership for not be able to be registered with the Ministry of Sports. Despite the fact that – according to Torres – the International Olympic Committee “has already recognized this directive”, which was imposed in the elections with the casting vote of the outgoing president, Augusto Morán Nuques, after a tie at 37, the process is “trapped”. This, due to the fact that Andrea Sotomayor Andrade, former Secretary of Sports (2017-2021) and member -as general secretary- of the losing list of Danilo Carrera Drouet to lead the COE, did not sign the minutes of the Ordinary Assembly in which Delgado won , by arguing that it was Morán “who did not dispatch” the document, in which the former official hoped that it would state “what actually happened.” Torres expressed his position in dialogue with this newspaper.
How did you observe the development of the elections last September 4 in the COE?
I was already a member of the Executive Committee of the COE in the Augusto Morán administration (2017-2021). They invited me to be part of the list of Jorge Delgado, whom I know. I saw that the issue was handled transparently. There was an observer from the International Olympic Committee, a notary, people from both lists, from the board of directors (outgoing) … Everyone was present at the assembly: those who wanted to vote and had an approved vote.
How did the process take place?
We all exercise our right to vote, which is secret and personal responsibility, of each federation. We voted in order, the votes were counted, and the lists were tied. The tie was a very big surprise for both. Statute was used. And the international observer was very clear: the statute gives the president (Morán) the casting vote. And it is not only something that happens in the COE, because, as far as I know, all federations and sports organizations give the president the casting vote. There are many similar tie scenarios.
Did you see any breach of process or justification for the election to be challenged in any way?
The subject was quite clear from my point of view. Augusto chose, according to his casting vote, Jorge Delgado’s list and he was declared the winner. The economist Danilo Carrera (candidate for president on the other list), in a very gentlemanly and very mature way for a leader who spent many years “on the other side”, approached to congratulate Jorge Delgado and recognized him (the triumph of the former swimmer ), hugged each other and even raised their hands. The subject was ready and sentenced there for me. The rest is at the discretion of each person and history will judge attitudes and responsibilities.
Has the lack of registration in the Ministry of Sports prevented the new COE directive from starting work?
Not at all, because the president of the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee is Jorge Delgado, from what I understand. The IOC has already recognized this directive. The COE is an autonomous body. What is missing is that they put the signature and seal of the Ministry of Sports, where the issue is trapped by the matter that is public. In my opinion, the new directory is already recognized internationally.
How do you rate this whole situation?
The situation is very uncomfortable and unfair. If the other list had won, I assure you that no one on the other list, Captain Delgado’s, would have made any problem. We would have retired and done. In elections, it is understood, there is a winner and a loser. In the end, what has to happen will happen, like everything in life. And what has to happen, from my point of view, is that the directory has to be registered with the Ministry of Sports. And period. (D)
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