By Duncan Mackay

Sergey GontcharovSergey Gontcharov insists he remains in charge of Lviv's bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, despite a press release being circulated today that he had been fired.


The release, which claimed to come from Lviv 2022, said that Gontcharov had been sacked as chief executive by the Ukrainian city before the video conference held between them and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last Thursday (May 8) because he is a Russian citizen.

But, when contacted by insidethegames, Gontcharov claimed the release was a hoax and he continued to head the bid, including having led the video conference.

"This information isn't true and seems like a provocation of some sort," Gontcharov, a close ally of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine President Sergey Bubka, told insidethegames.

"Together with other representatives of the bid, I was present at the videoconference with the IOC Working Group.

"It was held in Lviv on May 8th and I am pleased at how it went."

Sergej Gontcharov (second from right) pictured with Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyy, Ukraine's Deputy Sports Minister Sochi 2014 gold medalist Olena Pidhrushna and Lviv 2022 technical director and manager Arsen Popel and Oleg Zasadny after leading the video conference with the IOC last week ©FacebookSergej Gontcharov (second from right) pictured with Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyy, Ukraine's Deputy Sports Minister and Sochi 2014 gold medalist Olena Pidhrushna and Lviv 2022 technical director and manager Arsen Popel and Oleg Zasadny after leading the video conference with the IOC last week ©Facebook

Gontcharov even posted a picture on his personal Facebook page after the conference of him posing alongside the rest of the delegation, including Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyy and Ukraine's Deputy Sports Minister and Sochi 2014 gold medallist Olena Pidhrushna. 

Gontcharov, a long-standing figure in the Olympic Movement, has been associated with the bid since it was first conceived in 2011 and was appointed chief executive in February on the eve of Sochi 2014. 

He has contacted the IOC to reassure them that he remains in place and has not left. 

Gontcharov has acted as advisor to Sergey Bubka since 2011 and played a key role in his unsuccessful campaign for the IOC Presidency last year.

He has also been a member of the Event Committee of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF, and served as chief executive of the successful campaign for Minsk to host the 2014 Ice Hockey World Championships.

Sergey Gontcharov (back left), pictured at Sochi 2014, has been involved with Lviv's bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics since 2011 and is a close ally of National Olympic Committee of Ukraine President Sergey Bubka ©Facebook Sergey Gontcharov (back left), pictured at Sochi 2014, has been involved with Lviv's bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics since 2011 and is a close ally of National Olympic Committee of Ukraine President Sergey Bubka ©Facebook

Lviv's rivals, Almaty, Beijing, Kraków and Oslo, also took part in video conferences on the same day as Lviv with the IOC where they were quizzed on their Candidature Files.

The IOC's ruling Executive Board is due to announce which cities will be shortlisted to the next stage at its meeting in Lausanne on July 8 and 9. 

More follows

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