IOC, OCA reiterate support for POA
International committees reaffirm legitimacy of Pakistan body.
PHOTO: AFP/ FILE
KARACHI:
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) have once again declared the Arif Hasan-led Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) as the only recognised and legal Olympic functionary of the country.
The executive council of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) had recently formed a seven-member ad-hoc committee – later named the interim committee – to hold elections of the POA in ninety days, a move that is being viewed as a serious threat to the current setup.
“This is to confirm that the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) currently headed by its President Syed Arif Hasan, and the office-bearers duly and democratically elected by the General Assembly of the POA, in the presence of observers from the IOC and the OCA, is the sole and unique legitimate body recognised by the IOC (and affiliated to the OCA) to act as a National Olympic Committee (NOC) in Pakistan,” read the letter sent by the IOC and the OCA to the POA — an official copy of which was received by The Express Tribune.“As per the Olympic Charter, the IOC is the sole body that is entitled to recognise a National Olympic Committee.”
It would be pertinent to mention here that the PSB and the Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) sports wing are keen to implement the national sports policy, which bars any official from taking office after completing their two four-year tenures. According to them, Hasan is no longer eligible to hold office since he has completed his duration.
The IOC and OCA have vowed not to recognise the actions and decisions of the interim committee.
“The IOC and OCA will not recognise any decision, resolution or action of any body or so-called ‘interim committee’ claiming to act on behalf of the POA. Any such decision, resolution or action would indeed violate the Olympic Charter and would therefore be automatically null and void,” it further read.
“It is regrettable to note that the repeated attempts of a number of individuals/bodies to act against the Olympic Charter, do not serve at all the interests of the Olympic Movement and the athletes in Pakistan.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2013.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) have once again declared the Arif Hasan-led Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) as the only recognised and legal Olympic functionary of the country.
The executive council of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) had recently formed a seven-member ad-hoc committee – later named the interim committee – to hold elections of the POA in ninety days, a move that is being viewed as a serious threat to the current setup.
“This is to confirm that the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) currently headed by its President Syed Arif Hasan, and the office-bearers duly and democratically elected by the General Assembly of the POA, in the presence of observers from the IOC and the OCA, is the sole and unique legitimate body recognised by the IOC (and affiliated to the OCA) to act as a National Olympic Committee (NOC) in Pakistan,” read the letter sent by the IOC and the OCA to the POA — an official copy of which was received by The Express Tribune.“As per the Olympic Charter, the IOC is the sole body that is entitled to recognise a National Olympic Committee.”
It would be pertinent to mention here that the PSB and the Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) sports wing are keen to implement the national sports policy, which bars any official from taking office after completing their two four-year tenures. According to them, Hasan is no longer eligible to hold office since he has completed his duration.
The IOC and OCA have vowed not to recognise the actions and decisions of the interim committee.
“The IOC and OCA will not recognise any decision, resolution or action of any body or so-called ‘interim committee’ claiming to act on behalf of the POA. Any such decision, resolution or action would indeed violate the Olympic Charter and would therefore be automatically null and void,” it further read.
“It is regrettable to note that the repeated attempts of a number of individuals/bodies to act against the Olympic Charter, do not serve at all the interests of the Olympic Movement and the athletes in Pakistan.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2013.