Paul Henderson, president of the International Sailing Federation and head of Toronto’s failed 1996 Olympic bid, is resigning from the board of directors of the Canadian Olympic Association (COA) over what he says is a conflict of interest. Henderson says he cannot fairly serve the priorities of his international and domestic mandates at the same time.
Henderson won’t be in Calgary for the COA’s key planning meeting later this month. Henderson was one of the directors who supported the idea of a forensic audit of the COA books, but that issue —and the COA’s firm rejection of it—did not play a role in his stepping down, he said.
“The COA’s mandate is to have as many Canadian athletes win medals as possible. My mandate as the world president is to ensure that all competitors play on a level playing field. These two positions are contradictory”.
“At the time we were appointed, there was a debate at the COA whether Bob Steadward, who represents the Paralympics, and myself, should sit on the COA board. I agreed we should not. I therefore asked that my name not be included on the COA board”.
As a member of the International Olympic Committee Henderson is automatically considered a COA member and he will continue that association.
