Plenary Assembly approves Artur Lopes as President of the Portuguese Olympic Committee

The Plenary Assembly (AP) of the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP) voted this Thursday in favor of the Vice-President of the Executive Committee (CE), Artur Lopes, as President, replacing José Manuel Constantino, who died on August 11, in accordance with paragraph 4 of art. 19 of the COP Statutes.

The COP’s EC met on August 16 and unanimously proposed Artur Lopes to assume the presidency until elections are held – which should take place in the first quarter of 2025 -, a decision that was approved this Thursday by the members that make up the AP, through a secret vote, at the COP headquarters, in Lisbon.

26 Olympic federations voted – four votes each, corresponding to 104 votes – and a further 22 organisations with the right to vote – each with one vote –, all of whom voted in favour of Artur Lopes, for a total of 126 votes.

The AP also unanimously ratified the administrative decisions taken in the period between the death of José Manuel Constantino and this Thursday’s vote.

One of the initial moments of the AP was the observance of a minute of silence in honor of José Manuel Constantino.