News from the NOCs - SASCOC Elections; Montreal, Toronto Fete Olympians; Lukashenko Warning

Irvin Khoza to Challenge Gideon Sam

Irvin Khoza is running against incumbent Gideon Sam for the presidency of SASCOC, South Africa's Olympic Committee.

A statement on the SASCOC website said Khoza is the only challenger for the Nov. 24 election at the Quadrennial General Meeting.

Sam has lead SASCOC since 2008. Khoza, known as the "Iron Duke", is chairman of the South Africa Premier Soccer League and the Orlando Pirates. His tenure with the premier league ends in November.

Montreal, Toronto Fete Olympians

The Canadian cities of Montreal and Toronto honored their Olympians with ties to the cities.

On Oct. 31, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford welcomed three Olympians and two Paralympians to Toronto City Hall and said he is looking forward to seeing them compete at the 2015 Pan American Games – also in Toronto.

"The city of Toronto is such an important part of the Canadian Olympic family," said Canadian Olympic Committee CEO and Secretary General Christopher Overholt. "Only a few short months ago, these athletes and coaches packed up their bags, and said goodbye to their families. Then they flew to London to compete for Canada at the greatest spectacle in global sport. Truly, they are Toronto’s hometown heroes."

Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay held a ceremony on Oct. 29 at City Hall for the 58 Olympians and 21 Paralympians who have links with Montreal. They won 14 medals.

"On behalf of Montrealers, I would like to say how proud we are of their performances and the values they embody," Tremblay said. "They are role models of accomplishment for young people who dream of one day standing on the podium, and for all Montrealers."

Canadian Olympic Committee President Marcel Aubut added:"For decades now, Montreal has been a cradle of sport excellence for Canadian athletes. Thank you to Mayor Tremblay and his team at the City of Montreal, for once again demonstrating how athletes live in Montreal’s heart and soul."

Khoza was also one of the nine nominees for vice president.

Lukashenko Warns Against Corruption

Alexander Lukashenko, president of the Belarus National Olympic Committee, warned his executive committee members against corruption in sport.

"Everything should be honest, sincere and principled," he said at Thursday’s meeting of the BNOC Executive Committee, according to local media. "It should not be the way things were handled by the previous Executive Committee of the National Olympic Committee. The NOC Vice President, who has been relieved of duty, was paid a salary equal to the presidential one and even more than that. The NOC representative office personnel had salaries I am embarrassed to specify."

He warned that "no corrupted ones will be forgiven."

Lukashenko is the head of state for Belarus and is seen as an autocratic president.

Written by Ed Hula III.

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