Pakistan close to IOC ban

KARACHI: Chances of Pakistan’s suspension from the International Olympic Committee now looks certain as the government backed interim committee has announced to hold elections in Pakistan Olympic Association on July 5th.

“The Interim Committee of POA in its meeting held on 3rd June, 2013 under the Chairmanship of Mr. Asif Bajwa (The Chairman, Interim Committee of POA) finalized the schedule for holding of POA’s election. The election will be held in Islamabad on 5th July, 2013,” said a statement issued after the meeting.

The decision of holding elections in POA comes three days after the International Olympic Committee warned Pakistani authorities against any action on Olympic movement in the country.

Terming the government backed interim committee as parallel body, the International Olympic Association, in a strong worded statement, issued a clear warning that any further action will cause Pakistan’s suspension from the IOC.

“If this parallel body (supported by government authorities) continues to disrupt the operations of the legitimate POA, in particular by organizing new “elections” outside the POA and by preventing the POA from exercising its activities as foreseen by the Olympic Charter, Pakistan will be suspended from the Olympic Movement with all consequences this implies,” the IOC said on its statement after Executive Board’s meeting on May 30th.

“The IOC has reiterated on several occasions that it will not accept such a body, which stands in clear contrast to the basic principles of the Olympic Charter, and will recognise only the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), currently headed by Gen. (Retired) Syed Arif Hasan, as the sole entity entitled to act as the NOC of Pakistan.” it stated.

The IOC ban means an end to, Officials can not attend Olympic meetings & athletes of cannot compete at the Olympic Games under their country’s flag.

However, the interim committee remains unfazed by this warning, and today announced the schedule of elections in Pakistan Olympic Association.

According to the scheduled announced by the interim committee, the nomination papers will be given from 14th to 18th June, nominations should be filed on 21st June while the elections will take place on 5th June.