Croatian Olympic Committee to elect new president amid scandal aftermath

The Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO) is poised to elect its fourth president in its 35-year history on Wednesday, marking the end of Zlatko Mateša's quarter-century leadership. The election, taking place at the Hotel Sheraton in Zagreb, will see delegates choose a successor following Mateša's resignation on May 21. His departure came in the wake of a scandal involving alleged embezzlement within the Croatian Skiing Association and the subsequent flight of its director.

Mateša, who served as president since 1998, is one of the longest-serving leaders in the history of the Olympic movement. His tenure was marked by significant developments in Croatian sports, but his resignation has cast a shadow over the committee's leadership transition. The HOO has had three previous presidents: Antun Vrdoljak (1991-2000), Zdravko Hebel (2000-2002), and Mateša himself.

The race for the presidency has narrowed down to two main contenders: Josip Varvodić, president of the Croatian Swimming Federation, and Dragan Primorac, president of the Croatian Taekwondo Federation. A third candidate, Miroslav Buljan, is expected to have an incomplete candidacy, according to his own statements. Candidates must be nominated by at least ten sports federations, including their own.

The voting process involves 47 Olympic sports federations, 33 non-Olympic sports federations, 20 county federations, and the Zagreb Sports Association, along with representatives from the Athletes' Commission, the Croatian Olympic Club, and an IOC member. Olympic sports federations hold two votes each, while others have one, totaling 155 votes. The election will be conducted by secret ballot, with the winner determined by a majority of the attending delegates. The newly elected president will then select the members of the HOO Council, which will subsequently appoint the Secretary General and other professional directors.