(ATR) Pakistan's National Olympic Committee will hold elections on Jan. 23 under the watch of the IOC and Olympic Council of Asia.
Syed Arif Hasan, current president of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), told media this week that he will seek re-election for a fourth time.
Last year, Pakistan faced suspension from the IOC after two rival organizations claimed to be the legitimate National Olympic Committee. The impasse stemmed from disputed 2012 elections.
Hasan won election to the POA presidency in 2012. A rival, government-aligned POA appeared a few months later claiming legitimacy.
In October of 2012, a Lahore High Court ruled that the 2012 elections were invalid, but said the only rightful Pakistan NOC was the one Hasan was leading.Soon after the court's ruling, the IOC said the Pakistani government must support the Hasan-led POA or face suspension from the organization.
During a meeting in Lausanne last year, IOC and Pakistani sports leaders reached an agreement that would preserve the autonomy of the POA.
"We have sent invitation letters to the Athletics Federation of Pakistan, the Pakistan Judo Federation, and the Pakistan Cycling Federation for participation in the upcoming elections," Hasan said during a press conference this week.
"The first clause of the agreement has already been implemented as Akram Sahi group handed over keys of the Olympic House to the POA a few days ago in the presence of IOC and OCA observers."
He added, "But they still have not withdrawn the frivolous cases filed in different courts of law against the POA. They have to fulfil all the conditions in the agreement.
Once they fulfill the agreement, these national federations -- judo, athletics and cycling -- are likely to be re-admitted into the Olympic fold after approval of the POA General Council."
Hasan also told media this week that Pakistan will participate in next month's South Asian Games. The Indian cities of Guwahati and Shillongwill host the event, Feb. 5-16.
Written byNicole Bennett
For general comments or questions,click here.
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics isAroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Últimas Noticias
Utah’s Olympic venues an integral part of the equation as Salt Lake City seeks a Winter Games encore
Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation chief of sport development Luke Bodensteiner says there is a “real urgency to make this happen in 2030”. He discusses the mission of the non-profit organization, the legacy from the 2002 Winter Games and future ambitions.
IOC president tells Olympic Movement “we will again have safe and secure Olympic Games” in Beijing
Thomas Bach, in an open letter on Friday, also thanked stakeholders for their “unprecedented” efforts to make Tokyo 2020 a success despite the pandemic.
Boxing’s place in the Olympics remains in peril as IOC still unhappy with the state of AIBA’s reform efforts
The IOC says issues concerning governance, finance, and refereeing and judging must be sorted out to its satisfaction. AIBA says it’s confident that will happen and the federation will be reinstated.
IOC president details Olympic community efforts to get Afghans out of danger after Taliban return to power
Thomas Bach says the Afghanistan NOC remains under IOC recognition, noting that the current leadership was democratically elected in 2019. But he says the IOC will be monitoring what happens in the future. The story had been revealed on August 31 in an article by Miguel Hernandez in Around the Rings
North Korea suspended by IOC for failing to participate in Tokyo though its athletes could still take part in Beijing 2022
Playbooks for Beijing 2022 will ”most likely” be released in October, according to IOC President Thomas Bach.
