Canoeist Fernando Pimenta today called for an end to the “little dictators” in Portuguese sport, referring to Portuguese Judo Federation President Jorge Fernandes, who was removed from office following an investigation by the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth (IPDJ).
“I want to leave the floor to the little dictators who impose and do not specify what they want. As we know, there are more elements of federations,” said Fernando Pimenta after receiving the prestigious 2022 award from the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP).
On stage, in an acceptance speech, the canoeist said, without realizing it, that he was aware of other cases in other sports federations after receiving complaints from athletes and coaches.
“They didn’t ask for help, but they said the same thing happens in their federations. I only ask these people not to think about their egos, not to think about political “growing up”, to think more about athletes and coaches and about achieving results, because if it weren’t for them, they wouldn’t be doing anything there,” he said.
The board, headed by Jorge Fernandes, lost its mandate for failing to comply with article 51 of the Legal Regime of Sports Federations (RJFD), which lists the loss of mandates of holders of federal bodies due to ineligibility, incompatibility or interference with a treaty in which they are interested.
Pimenta, who won 15 medals in 2022, including gold in the European K1 5000m speed race, as well as in the “short race” and K2 at the World Marathons, then went to the IPDJ, which was presented at the gala concert in 2022. Celebration of the Olympic Games by President Vitor Pataco.
“I want to thank the IPDJ for the work they have done for judo, no doubt it was a very important step for the further growth of other federations,” Pimenta continued.
He then approached the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, João Paulo Correia, with a request to support projects protected by the Olympic Athletes’ Commission.
“With very little input, we do a lot, but often we are asked for professional results in precarious conditions. Much needs to be done for our sport, for the Portuguese and for our youth to improve the Portuguese sport,” concluded the medalist, bronze in the K1 1000 meters in Tokyo 2020 and silver in the K2 1000 in London 2012.
