The Egyptian Olympic Committee's (EOC) executive board has approved the final list of candidates for the new EOC board of directors whose term will end 2016. The starting date for candidates to submit their papers was from 1-11 January. Twenty-two candidates are running. The result of the election will be declared on 28 February. Vice-President of the Egyptian Olympic Committee (EOC) Ahmed Al-Fouli told Al-Ahram Weekly, “According to NOC general assembly rules, the NOC should hold elections every four years. The election of the president is valid for a term of eight years. It is renewable only once for a term of four years. “The NOC's general assembly is responsible for drawing up rules and regulations for approval of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and whether it needs any amendments,” Al-Fouli said. Rules and regulations must stick to the Olympic charter. It comprises all the Olympic federations represented by its president. There is no fixed number of Olympic federations but differs from one country to another. This year, the number of sports in the Egyptian Olympic Federation reached 26 after adding golf, sailing and water skiing. “All rules for the elections are found in NOC regulations. There are certain requirements the elector candidates must meet. He or she must be an international player or international referee or a member in an international federation or coach of a national team or president or member of African or continental federations. Candidates must also be elected member in current board of sport federations,” Al-Fouli said. According to the decision of the EOC executive board, the candidates are as follows: Two candidates are competing for the presidential seat: president of the Egyptian Hockey Federation (EHF) Mohamed Shahine and the president of the Egyptian Rowing Federation (ERF) Khaled Zeineddin. For the vice-president seat, the two contestants are the president of the Egyptian Triathlon Federation (ETF) Ahmed Nasser and the president of the Egyptian Equestrian Federation (EEF) Hisham Hatab. Vying for the post of secretary-general are the president of the Egyptian Weightlifting Federation (EWF) Mahmoud Shoukri and president of the Egyptian Archery Federation (EAF) Alaa Gabr. Fifteen candidates are nominated for board member seats: President of the Egyptian Modern Pentathlon Federation (EMPF) Sherif Al-Erian, President of the Egyptian Wrestling Federation (EWF) Hassan Haddad, President of the Egyptian Boxing Federation ( EBF) Abdel-Aziz Ghoneim, President of the Egyptian Shooting Federation (ESF) Hazem Hosni, president of the Egyptian Table Tennis Federation (ETF) Alaa Meshref, president of the Egyptian Handball Federation Khaled Hamouda, president of the Egyptian Badminton Federation ( EBF) Ali Hasaballah and president of the Egyptian Judo Federation (EJF) Sameh Mubasher. Also running is board member in the Egyptian Basketball Federation (EBF) Gasser Riad, board member in the Egyptian Swimming Federation (ESF) Raouf Nour, board member of the Egyptian Football Federation (EFF) Hamada Al-Masri, board member in the Egyptian Tennis Federation (ETF) Tamer Rahmi, board member in the Egyptian Fencing Federation (EFF) Tamer Al-Arabi, board member in the Egyptian Volleyball Federation (EVF) Hanaa Hamiza and board member in the Egyptian Cycling Federation (ECF) Ayman Ali. Three candidates are competing for the auditor's seat, Ahmed Zakaria, Karim Al-Shalakani and Seif-Allah Mustafa. “Three challenges were presented to the election committee,” added Al-Fouli. All concerned referees. One was against Mohamed Shahine for not being an international referee or a member in continental federation. The other was against Khaled Zeineddin, again for not being an international referee nor did he present the approval of the work authority. The third complaint was against President of the Egyptian Athletics Federation Walid Atta, one again for not being an international referee.
