Jefferson Pérez Elected President of Ecuadorian Olympic Committee

Jefferson Pérez, a celebrated figure in Ecuadorian athletics, has officially assumed the presidency of the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee (COE). The former Olympic medalist race walker stepped into the top leadership role on July 31, 2026, succeeding Jorge Delgado Panchana, who resigned from the position.

Pérez's transition to president follows his tenure as vice president under Delgado Panchana's previous administration, which was elected in May 2025. The COE announced the leadership changes via a statement on its social media channels, also noting the resignation of John Zambrano Haboud as secretary-general. The committee expressed gratitude to the outgoing leadership.

The new directive, led by Pérez, has set its sights on preparing Ecuadorian athletes for the Santa Fe 2026 South American Games. The COE has requested support from governmental authorities to achieve this goal. The committee stated that the leadership changes were coordinated with the International Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Education, Sport, and Culture, aiming to ensure stability and participation in the lead-up to the next Olympic cycle.

This leadership change comes after previous conflicts between the COE's previous board, led by Delgado, and the Vice Ministry of Sport. The governmental body had raised concerns about continuous re-election prohibitions, despite the International Olympic Committee's acceptance of the leadership. With Pérez, also the president of the Ecuadorian Athletics Federation, now at the helm, the COE aims to move forward smoothly. The new board includes Lorena Arroyo as first vice president, Francisco Carvallo as second vice president, and Carlos Manzur as secretary-general, among other members.