The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided to “suspend all discussions” with India regarding hosting of global sporting events after two Pakistani shooters were denied visas to compete for the World Cup in New Delhi.
The Olympic committee also withdrew the Olympic qualification status for the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol competition from the New Delhi World Cup.
The denial of visas to the Pakistani shooters came in the wake of last week’s Pulwama terrorist attack in which at least 40 CRPF personnel were killed.
The IOC said it will not allow India to organise any Olympic-related events in the future, until clear written guarantees are obtained from the government to ensure the entry of all participants in such events in full compliance with the rules of the Olympic Charter.
“Since becoming aware of the issue, and in spite of intense last-minute joint efforts by the IOC, the ISSF and the Indian NOC and discussions with the Indian government authorities, no solution has been found to allow the Pakistani delegation to enter India in time to compete,” the IOC said.
The IOC came down heavily on India for going against the Olympic charter.
The IOC said, “This situation goes against the fundamental principles of the Olympic charter, in particular the principles of non-discrimination, as well as the IOC’s and the Olympic movement’s position, reiterated on many occasions over the past few years, that equal treatment must be guaranteed for all participating athletes and sporting delegations at international sports events, without any form of discrimination or political interference from the host country.”
“As a result, the IOC executive board also decided to suspend all discussions with the Indian NOC and government regarding the potential applications for hosting future sports and Olympic-related events in India, until clear written guarantees are obtained from the Indian government to ensure the entry of all participants in such events in full compliance with the rules of the Olympic charter — and to recommend that the international federations (IFs) neither award nor hold sports events in India until the above-mentioned guarantees are obtained,” the IOC added.
