RIO DE JANEIRO: Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of the organising committee of Rio 2016, has been re-elected unopposed as president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee.
Nuzman, 74, has headed up the organisation since 1995. This will be his sixth and final term ending after the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
By a law introduced ibn 2013 sports officials of bodies which receive public money may be re-elected only once. His deputy is Paulo Wanderley, president of the Brazilian Judo Confederation (CBJ).
The law does not apply to the Brazilian football confederation since this does not reportedly receive any public funds.
Nuzman was not re-elected unanimously by the 29 sports confederation membership of the COB. Some 24 voted for him, with one against, three abstentions and one spoiled ballot.
He said: “I want to thank the presidents and representatives who have brought great strength and prestige to Brazilian sport with so many Olympic medals. The legacy of the Olympic Games gives us the certainty of building a lot of confidence in the Brazilian confederations.”
Nuzman also confirmed Agberto GuimarĂ£es, executive director of Sports of Rio 2016, as COB executive director in place of Marcus Freire.
Alaor Azevedo, the president of the Brazilian table tennis confederation, failed in a bid to challenge Nuzman.
According to COB statutes, a candidacy must be registered eight months before the organization of the election and needs 10 signatures from among 30 delegates eligible to vote.
Azevedo claimed that potential supporters were afraid of reprisals ahead of the Rio Olympics. He sought court support for a late candidacy in vain.
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