Commission defends stay of Ana Moser

Ana Moser, current Minister of Sports, received support from the Athletes Commission of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) amid President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s move to replace her with Deputy André Fufuca (PP-MA). In a note signed jointly with the organization Atletas pelo Brasil, the Commission says it is “apprehensive about the possible change of command” in the folder and recalls promises made by the president during the presidential campaign

“Also during the presidential campaign in 2022, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in a meeting with representatives of the area, said that a ‘revolution’ in public sports policy was needed, one that would help to ‘build a good sports policy for this country, from childhood to old age’. This is precisely what Minister Ana Moser has been dedicated to doing since the beginning of her term, even with a reduced team and scarce resources. It is imperative to note that, if it weren’t for her, this would be the direction of sports policy”, says the note.

Lula has Moser, a former volleyball player who won an Olympic medal and is not affiliated with any party, as part of his personal quota of ministers, but he cut an agreement with Centrão to hand over the Ministry of Sport to Fufuca, an ally of the president of the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL). The ‘governability’ argument is criticized by the COB Athletes Commission.

“We regret that, less than a year later, in the name of an alleged governability, President Lula’s government may break with its speech and promises and, putting the Ministry of Sport on the table of political negotiations, annihilates all and any possibility of that the sport policy that Brazil needs is effectively implemented. Sport is not a bargaining chip. We feel ashamed and discredited, seeing that sport in Brazil continues to be seen as something minor. Minister Ana Moser has our support and the of the sports community to continue advancing towards the necessary changes in the structure of public sports policy in the country”, criticizes the entity.

The president even suggested the creation of a 38th ministry, that of Small and Medium Enterprises, for which accommodation would be made favorable to Centrão, in order to preserve Moser’s position. Ultimately, the offer was rejected.

The Sports portfolio is watched with anticipation because of the collection of sports betting taxation, which should yield up to R$ 12 billion when fully regulated. The plan is for the resources to be distributed directly to state and municipal funds through the National Sports Fund.

Ana Moser continues to fulfill her agenda normally as a representative of the portfolio. On Monday, she participated in the opening of the International Sports Forum in Latin America, part of the Global Week of Integrity in Sport, which has the Morumbi Stadium, in São Paulo, as its headquarters.

The event aims to discuss topics such as inclusion and diversity, governance, financial integrity and transparency, innovation and sustainability, and social responsibility. Governments from several countries participate, including Portugal, Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland and Sweden, finance professionals, business, representatives of sports entities, companies and civil society.