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President of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee (COSR) Alin Petrache announced he will resign after the Olympic Games of Rio de Janeiro, according to the organisation's official website. "As COSR President, I shall do what I have already announced since the beginning of the year, I shall tender the General Meeting my resignation, for the activity assessment not to be blocked by any hierarchical reason. I shall ask the same of the COSR Vice Presidents and all of the Executive Committee members," Petrache said.
As he rushed back to Romania "for a medical emergency of one of the children," Petrache pointed out that after the Olympic Games there will be an assessment of the COSR General Meeting on "the entire athletes' training activity, the results obtained by each federation, each athlete and the responsibility incumbent on each, including on the leadership members, both within COSR and the sports clubs and federations. This whole analysis and the measures that will be decided will be transparently, openly presented to the public opinion through the media." The COSR President thanked "all the Romanian athletes engaged in the Olympic competition, it is commendatory that they qualified meeting the Olympic standards. A mention to all those who honoured their participation with meritorious results and our gratitude to those who went on the Olympic podium. Moreover, a good thought of thanks to all the technical staff members, coaches, doctors, analysts, physical therapists. Their victories belong only to them, to the athletes and those who trained them."
Petrache also referred to the "poor, debatable quality of some of the sports gear of Romania's Olympic Team," apologizing on his and COSR's behalf both to the athletes who were affected and to the public opinion. "Upon returning to Romania, after the Olympic Games, we shall initiate an internal investigation within COSR to establish who is responsible and what are the measures to be taken, the sanctions to be applied. All those responsible will be held accountable, regardless of the position they hold. We shall inform without delay the public opinion about the results of the investigation. The COSR will further put at the disposal of the state bodies all the data and information requested in this case," Petrache mentioned. The COSR President, who is leaving for Rio on Monday, in order to stand by the Romanian athletes still in competition, also had words of gratitude for all those who stood by Romania's delegation to the Olympic Games of Rio, spectators, radio listeners and television viewers. "We felt the hearts of Romanians back home and everywhere beating for the Olympic Team. The Romanian athletes competing in the days to come need our support. We hope Romania's flag will be hoisted on the Olympic flagpole and we'll hear Romania's national anthem again in Rio. Good luck, Romania!," Petrache also said.
So far, Romania has won four medals in Rio, the gold medal of the women's epee team, the silver won by tennis players Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau in the men's doubles event, the bronze conquered by Gabriel Sincraian in weightlifting (85 kg category) and the one which went to the women's coxed eight rowing crew.
