Guatemala City, by Josue David Acevedo Rivas -AGN-. President Bernardo Arévalo, with the Board of Directors of the Congress of the Republic and other congress members, analyzed the situation that the Guatemalan Olympic Committee -COG- is going through to find a solution so that the International Olympic Committee can lift the sanction for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Using a video on his social media, the president referred to one of the points discussed: reforming the Sports Law to benefit athletes.
Arévalo has shown full interest in solving the situation, which does not allow athletes to participate under the Guatemalan flag in the events of the Olympic cycle. However, he cannot intervene in this case, given that sport in Guatemala is autonomous.
Me he reunido con la Junta Directiva del Congreso de la República para coordinar acciones con relación a la reforma de la Ley del Deporte, crucial para asegurar que nuestros atletas compitan bajo la bandera de Guatemala en París. 🇬🇹🙌🏽
— Bernardo Arévalo (@BArevalodeLeon) March 5, 2024
Trabajando en coordinación y por el orgullo… pic.twitter.com/cr8le5wWT2
One more step towards Paris
After the meeting, President Arévalo gave details of the points discussed. They analyzed the situation of the suspension of the national sport and the roadmap to follow to try and achieve that the athletes participate with full rights, can sing their anthem and see their flag, and celebrate with Guatemala when they win medals in Olympic competitions.
Recently, President Arévalo commented that during his visit to the IOC on February 21, he successfully advocated with Thomas Bach on the problem that has troubled the Guatemalan sports community since August 2022.
In response, the highest sports body is studying the possibility of temporarily lifting the suspension so that Guatemala can participate under its colors in the next Olympic Games, which are about to begin.
The only way to achieve this would be if Congress and the Constitutional Court show they can solve the problem with the COG’s Board of Directors.
Nuestros atletas volverán a portar con orgullo la bandera de Guatemala en unos Juegos Olímpicos. 🇬🇹🏅
— Bernardo Arévalo (@BArevalodeLeon) February 21, 2024
Con mucha alegría les comparto que el @iocmedia se ha comprometido a trabajar para levantar lo antes posible la suspensión. Gracias, Señor Tomas Bach, agradezco su apoyo y… pic.twitter.com/KQ27eBSKGB
A light at the end of the tunnel
Even though the future of Guatemalan Olympic sports is still uncertain, this type of action increases the possibility of Guatemala’s return to the events organized by the IOC with its flag and colors.
At the moment, just over 100 days before the start of the summer event, nine national athletes have already qualified for Paris 2024:
José Alejandro Barrondo – Athletics
Adriana Ruano – Shooting/ Trap women
Andrés Fernández – Modern Pentathlon
Jean Pierre Brol – Shooting/ Trap men
Juan Ignacio Maegli – Sailing/ One Person Dinghy, Men
Luis Grijalva -Athletics 5,000 metres, Men
Sophia Hernández – Modern Pentathlon
Alberto González – Athletics
Waleska Soto – Shooting/ Trap women
