Doug Hamilton, head of venues for the Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid, has officially registered as a candidate for the presidency of the Canadian Olympic Association(COA).
Hamilton, a 42-year old lawyer, will be facing off against 51-year-old Ottawa lawyer Mike Chambers, at the COA’s annual meeting in Toronto April 21.
Hamilton says he wants to make the COA organization stronger, involve more athletes in COA decision-making and get more international events in Canada to improve sporting facilities.
He said, “I think the COA has gotten a little stale and we need some fresh ideas”. Hamilton is now on the COA board of directors but not on the executive.
Hamlton said he considers himself an underdog and that there are some in the COA who feel his running for the presidency represents a power push by officials connected with Toronto’s bid.
Chambers is closely identified with the current regime. He has been a COA vice-president since 1990 and has led the Canadian Olympic team selection group for three years.
The COA is also looking for a new chief executive officer to replace Carol Anne Letheren, who died earlier this year. COA spokesperson Deborah Allan said a search firm has been hired but she doesn’t expect a successor for Lethern to be hired before July.
