The weight of investigative journalism - Hungarian sports press reveals untold stories that lead to Krisztián Kulcsár ousting
Krisztián Kulcsár would step down from his post as the President of the Hungarian Olympic Committee on January 31
BUDAPEST, January 15, 2022 - The closing weeks of 2021 brought a very turbulent period in the life of the Hungarian National Olympic Committee, as an amended statute at the beginning of the summer brought in the exclusion of sports professionals and supporters of the Olympic movement from the organisation.
FRUSTRATION Many outstanding sports scientists and persistent Olympic supporters, Olympic champions, and respected sports personalities felt frustrated with the administrative move, while the president and his advisors sought to take the cause of the Olympics further and further away from those who spent a lifetime within the sporting world.
INTERVIEWS The Hungarian press interviewed a number of stakeholders, revealing the autocratic background of the leadership, the arbitrary decision-making mechanism, and the board's dwindling confidence in the activities of the chairman of the Hungarian Olympic Committee.
FAILURE “I failed because there was news about my presidency, and my silence could not calm tempers. I sense distrust, and although several people wanted to persuade me to resign, it was clear to me that I wanted to stand before you and you decide,” Krisztián Kulcsár said speaking before the Exceptional General Assembly's voting on the 30th of December.
VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE After the voting, the Exceptional General Assembly of the Hungarian Olympic Committee withdrew confidence from the president, Krisztián Kulcsár. He announced that he would step down from his post on January 31, so his successor could travel to the Beijing Olympics.
ELECTION The Board members of the Hungarian Olympic Committee held their meeting on the 12th of January and convened a presidential election general assembly for January 29.
Current members of the Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB) may apply for the position of the President of MOB, submitting their application until the 19th of January.
ZSOLT GYULAY The former president Krisztián Kulcsár has announced he is not running for the position again. However, the two-time Olympic sprint kayaker champion Zsolt Gyulay is running for president of the Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB). His main goal is for the long-standing organisation to regain certain licences, to regain prestige, and to bring sports federations, associations like the Hungarian Sport Journalists’ Association, and athletes to the same platform.
FORMER GLORY “I became a member of the General Assembly in 1989 as a fresh Olympic champion, and I was there when the reformed MOB elected Pál Schmitt as the President,” Zsolt Gyulay told Nemzeti Sport, the National Sports Daily. “It is interesting that the parliament of sports got established earlier than the first freely elected parliament in Hungary. I have been a part of the organisation ever since – as a member, Board member, or vice president. I was close to the fire but after I was appointed as the head of Hungaroring, the Formula-1 Racing circuit in 2010, my Board membership expired, and I focused on other tasks. Today, however, I feel very much inspired to bring the Hungarian Olympic Committee back to its former glory.”
If the General Assembly of the Hungarian Olympic Committee elects a new President at the end of the month, the Hungarian Olympic team travelling to the Beijing Olympics will not be left without a leader.
FRUSTRATION Many outstanding sports scientists and persistent Olympic supporters, Olympic champions, and respected sports personalities felt frustrated with the administrative move, while the president and his advisors sought to take the cause of the Olympics further and further away from those who spent a lifetime within the sporting world.
INTERVIEWS The Hungarian press interviewed a number of stakeholders, revealing the autocratic background of the leadership, the arbitrary decision-making mechanism, and the board's dwindling confidence in the activities of the chairman of the Hungarian Olympic Committee.
FAILURE “I failed because there was news about my presidency, and my silence could not calm tempers. I sense distrust, and although several people wanted to persuade me to resign, it was clear to me that I wanted to stand before you and you decide,” Krisztián Kulcsár said speaking before the Exceptional General Assembly's voting on the 30th of December.
VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE After the voting, the Exceptional General Assembly of the Hungarian Olympic Committee withdrew confidence from the president, Krisztián Kulcsár. He announced that he would step down from his post on January 31, so his successor could travel to the Beijing Olympics.
ELECTION The Board members of the Hungarian Olympic Committee held their meeting on the 12th of January and convened a presidential election general assembly for January 29.
Current members of the Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB) may apply for the position of the President of MOB, submitting their application until the 19th of January.
ZSOLT GYULAY The former president Krisztián Kulcsár has announced he is not running for the position again. However, the two-time Olympic sprint kayaker champion Zsolt Gyulay is running for president of the Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB). His main goal is for the long-standing organisation to regain certain licences, to regain prestige, and to bring sports federations, associations like the Hungarian Sport Journalists’ Association, and athletes to the same platform.
FORMER GLORY “I became a member of the General Assembly in 1989 as a fresh Olympic champion, and I was there when the reformed MOB elected Pál Schmitt as the President,” Zsolt Gyulay told Nemzeti Sport, the National Sports Daily. “It is interesting that the parliament of sports got established earlier than the first freely elected parliament in Hungary. I have been a part of the organisation ever since – as a member, Board member, or vice president. I was close to the fire but after I was appointed as the head of Hungaroring, the Formula-1 Racing circuit in 2010, my Board membership expired, and I focused on other tasks. Today, however, I feel very much inspired to bring the Hungarian Olympic Committee back to its former glory.”
If the General Assembly of the Hungarian Olympic Committee elects a new President at the end of the month, the Hungarian Olympic team travelling to the Beijing Olympics will not be left without a leader.
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