Feb 21, 2019
NEW DELHI: Thr International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stripped the ISSF World Cup event of the 16 quotas in reaction to India refusing visa to two Pakistani shooters
and manager following the Pulwama terror attack on CRPF convoy killing 40 jawans
a week ago.
The IOC's decision comes hours after International Shooting Sport Federation
(ISSF) President Vladimir Lisin announced that all the allotted 16 Olympic quotas
for the 2020 Games would be scrapped. However, the apex body limited the
withholding
of quotas to only two while retaining 14.
"The IOC restricted the withdrawal of recognition as an Olympic qualification
event to the 25m rapid fire pistol competition in which the two Pakistani athletes
were supposed to participate. This happened in the interest of the other 500
athletes from 61 countries participating in the other events who are already
in India for their competition," the IOC said in a statement after its executive
board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland Thursday.
"Since becoming aware of the issue and in spite of intense last-minute joint
efforts by the IOC, the ISSF and the Indian National Olympic Committee (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 statement said.
The IOC came down heavily on India for going against the Olympic charter.
"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 said.
The Pakistan shooting federation Wednesday requested the ISSF not to offer
quota places in the events their shooters were scheduled to participate in.
Pakistan had applied for visas for two shooters -- G M Bashir and Khalil Ahmed
-- in the rapid fire category as the event in New Delhi also served as a qualifier
for the 2020 Olympic games.
