GUAYAQUIL, Guayas
The Ecuadorian Olympic Committee (COE) notified 14 national sports federations that they must vacate, until January 15, 2026, the offices and coliseums located in the Olympic complex, as part of an institutional reengineering plan to reduce expenses due to the lack of state resources.
The decision was officially communicated on December 15, 2025 and responds, according to the COE, to the absence of economic transfers from the State since October of this year. The measure affects federations such as cycling, surfing, basketball, badminton, handball, gymnastics, skating, diving, taekwondo, bowling and Olympic shooting.
In the notification, the COE argues that it cannot continue to cover the costs of basic services, maintenance and guardianship due to the lack of official recognition of its board by the Ministry of Sports, which prevents access to public resources.
Fernando Ibáñez, treasurer of the COE, assured that the decision is “technical and not political” and explained that the institution allocates close to USD 6,000 per month to the maintenance of these facilities, including USD 2,600 in electricity consumption alone. He pointed out that, during the last 15 years, no federation would have contributed financially for the use of the spaces.
In addition, he indicated that a technical study revealed that several facilities are deteriorated or unused. According to the COE, some federations have kept coliseums closed for years, while others operate intermittently or moved their administrative management to Quito. In the cases of judo and weightlifting, the plan contemplates the unification of offices, without evacuation of the coliseums.
The measure generated immediate rejection among leaders and athletes. Marisol Castro, president of the Ecuadorian Skating Federation, warned that the eviction will directly affect the preparation of high-performance athletes. He explained that the coliseum also functions as a lodging center for provincial athletes who train for national and international competitions.
Castro also questioned the legality of the notification and stated that his federation does cover expenses such as water, janitorial services and cleaning products. He maintained that the document is invalid, since it was signed by an official who is not a member of an officially recognized board of directors.
The impact also reaches athletes. Christopher Paredes, national skating team, pointed out that he has resided in the coliseum since 2022 and that the eviction would put his training routine at risk. “I live here to train morning, afternoon and night. That has allowed me to compete and win medals for the country,” he said.
While the COE defends the restructuring as a necessary measure for institutional sustainability, the affected federations warn that the cut compromises sports preparation and the continuity of high performance processes in a key year of the Olympic cycle. (YO)
