February 9, 2013
On Thursday the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced it had issued a warning to Pakistan over alleged political interference in the country’s chapter organization. Last year the OIC suspended India over similar offenses.
February 9, 2013
On Thursday the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced it had issued a warning to Pakistan over alleged political interference in the country’s chapter organization. Last year the OIC suspended India over similar offenses.
The International Olympic Committee on Thursday said it had issued a warning over alleged political interference in Pakistan's national organization.
"The IOC will continue to support the Pakistan Olympic Association, whose office-bearers were duly and democratically elected last year," a spokesman for the Lausanne-based body told AFP in an emailed statement.
"The IOC condemns the current attempts of a number of individuals and bodies to destabilize the POA as it threatens the interests of the Olympic Movement and its athletes in Pakistan."
The POA and government agency the Pakistan Sports Board are at loggerheads because of alleged political meddling by the latter.
The IOC has called talks between POA and Pakistan government officials at its Swiss headquarters on February 15.
The goal, the spokesman said, is to "review the situation and find a reasonable solution that will fully respect the autonomy of the POA and the national sports organizations belonging to the Olympic Movement in Pakistan."
The IOC suspended Pakistan's South Asian neighbor and rival India on December 4 last year because it ignored repeated warnings not to elect officials tainted by corruption allegations to its national Olympic organization.
Courtesy: AFP
