Estonian Olympic Committee Presidential Candidate Teigamägi Names Vice President Nominees

Erich Teigamägi, a candidate for the presidency of the Estonian Olympic Committee (EOK), has unveiled the team of vice presidents he intends to lead with if elected. Teigamägi's vision for the EOK includes having four vice presidents, each tasked with overseeing distinct areas of Estonian sports and serving in an honorary capacity.

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I believe that Estonian sport is strongest when every sports sector feels its voice is heard in the EOK leadership. That is precisely why I want to create a broad leadership team.

"I believe that Estonian sport is strongest when every sports sector feels its voice is heard in the EOK leadership," Teigamägi stated. He emphasized the importance of a broad leadership team, noting that his proposed candidates possess deep knowledge of Estonian sports, its strengths, and challenges, enabling them to advance the country's sports forward as a unified team.

If elected, Teigamägi plans to nominate Tõnu Tõniste, Anne Rei, Priit Sarapuu, and Leho Haldna for the vice-presidential roles. Tõniste, a decorated Olympian, has extensive experience in sports management, including a decade on the EOK's top sports commission. He would be responsible for leading the top sports commission and developing elite athletics.

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These people do not need time to settle in; they know Estonian sport, its strengths, and challenges, and will help advance Estonian sport as a unified team.

Anne Rei, with over 30 years in Estonian football, including roles as CEO of FC Flora and general secretary of the Estonian Football Association, would oversee team sports and international cooperation. Priit Sarapuu, president of the Estonian Basketball Association, has been instrumental in securing the hosting rights for EuroBasket 2029 and would focus on ball games and inter-team sport collaboration. Leho Haldna, former president of the International Orienteering Federation and current president of the Estonian Orienteering Federation, brings extensive international leadership experience and would be responsible for non-Olympic sports and sports associations.

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Tõnu Tõniste's experience in top sports as an Olympian, Anne Rei's knowledge of managing one of Estonia's largest sports, Priit Sarapuu's contribution to the development of Estonian basketball, and Leho Haldna's broad experience in the sports movement together form a team that can represent all of Estonian sport.

Teigamägi highlighted that the combined experience of his proposed team, Tõniste's elite sports background, Rei's leadership in a major sport, Sarapuu's contribution to basketball, and Haldna's broad experience in the sports movement, would enable them to represent all of Estonian sport effectively. He reiterated that the vice presidents would serve voluntarily, driven by a mission to develop Estonian sports.

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The EOK must primarily serve Estonian sport. My wish is for the leadership to include people who contribute to the development of sport out of a sense of mission, experience, and a desire to move Estonian sport forward.