National Sports Policy conflict: POA to invite IOC official in bid to resolve issue

Pakistan Olympics chief says PSB’s actions damaging country’s image.

KARACHI: An official of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will be invited to the country in a bid to resolve the crisis with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), said Pakistan Olympics Association (POA) President General (retd) Arif Hasan.

The PSB has been at loggerheads with the POA over the implementation of the National Sports Policy – that bars a sports body official to be elected for more than two four-year tenures – with the association maintaining that it has an independent status. Meanwhile, the PSB has said that the policy is binding on all Pakistan sports bodies.

However, the IOC has conveyed its displeasure over the interference of the government-run PSB and Hasan said the foreign official will reiterate the global body’s stance.

“The POA will write a letter to invite an IOC official,” Hasan told reporters at the Karachi Press Club. “Although the IOC has cleared its stance before, we won’t hesitate to invite their official to convey their message again.”

The official will attend the POA’s general council meeting on October 14 in Lahore, being held to discuss the body’s autonomy and other matters including a review of Pakistan’s performance at the London Olympics.

Hasan, who is in his third consecutive tenure, said the POA comes under the umbrella of the IOC and is thus not bound to follow the National Sports Policy.

The tiff has taken Pakistan at the brink of disaffiliation from the IOC which has imposed sanctions against countries in the past due to government intervention.

Hasan said he was not fighting for his survival but taking a stand for principles.

“All this is against the Olympics Charter. It isn’t just detrimental to sports in Pakistan but will have a injurious impact on our image.

“I can’t predict what the IOC and other international federations will do but one thing can be said with certainty — any violation of IOC Charter will invite sanctions.”

Hasan added that other national sports bodies were already feeling the heat from international federations.

“For instance Fifa has warned the Pakistan Football Federation of government
intervention in its affairs.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2012.