Government gives guarantee to IOC

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 18

The Government of India has tendered an unconditional guarantee to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) clearing the path for international tournaments to return to India. In February, Pakistani shooters GM Bashir and Khalil Ahmed were denied visa documents to travel to New Delhi for the ISSF World Cup in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack. 

IOC had revoked Olympics qualification status of the 25m rapid fire event, in which the two Pakistani shooters were to participate. IOC then suspended all discussions with India regarding potential applications to host Olympics-related events and advised all its affiliated international federations to neither award nor hold 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 Olympics charter”. India had previously denied visa to Kosovo’s Donjeta Sakiku for the 2018 women’s boxing World Championship.

No prejudice

In a letter addressed to Indian Olympic Association president Narinder Batra and IOC president Thomas Bach, sports secretary Radhey Shyam Julaniya wrote that India “will permit all qualified athletes belonging to any National Olympic Committee recognised by the IOC or any national federation affiliated to International Federation concerned to participate.” 

“Such participation of athletes shall be without prejudice to our principled positions and policies on other political matters including issues such as international recognition or otherwise of the country of origin of the athletes,” Julaniya wrote.