ATR First: IOC Closely Monitoring Catalonia Independence Bid

(ATR) The International Olympic Committee is waiting to see the results of independence efforts in Catalonia before a National Olympic Committee can be recognized.

"The current Olympic Charter states that the IOC can only recognize a National Olympic Committee in each Independent State," NOC relations director of the IOC Pere Miró tells Around the Rings.

"Therefore we must wait to see how the situation in Catalonia evolves as a potential independent state."

Miró’s comments follow a request from the Catalan Olympic Committee to the IOC seeking recognition in case of a successful referendum in Catalonia to secede from Spain. The Spanish government deems the referendum that occurred on Oct. 1 illegal and used government troops to forcibly prevent voters from getting to the polls, injuring hundreds in the process.

The Catalan government says the controversial vote showed support for the separation from Spain, with Catalan President Carles Puigdemont expected to declare independence in a matter of days. Spain’s King Felipe issued a television address to the country on Oct. 3, accusing the pro-independence voters of "unacceptable disloyalty".

While 90 percent of voters voted for secession, the turnout for the vote was only 42 percent, with Catalan authorities blaming the police crackdown and violence as the cause for the lack of participation.

"First of all, the so-called ‘referendum’ was a pantomime without any legality visibility and a total lack of guarantees, and the ridiculousness of requesting recognition is another step in this grotesque path," said IOC member and International Canoe Federation president Jose Perurena. "The rules of the IOC are clear: only countries recognized can apply to be members of the IOC."

When asked about the possible recognition of a Catalan Olympic Committee, president of the Spanish Olympic Committee Alejandro Blanco said:

"There is a Committee that is called the Catalan Olympic Committee, which has already lost three trials in Spain," Blanco told Spanish daily sports newspaper Marca. "The IOC has already actively and passively warned them that they cannot be called so because there can be only one [NOC] for each independent state recognized by international organizations.

"As such, there is no Catalan Olympic Committee, denominated as they denominate. At the moment it would not be viable."

The COC also has a president, Gerard Esteva, who has said that he has everything prepared for the necessary procedures if Catalonia becomes a State, as stated in the letter to the IOC.

The Catalan athletes that have dual nationality would have to choose if they want to continue competing with Spain or compete for Catalonia.

As of now, Catalonia has 69 National Federations for different sports disciplines, composing the Union of Sports Federations of Catalonia. Fifteen of the NFs are officially recognized by International Federations: futsal, korfball, pitch & putt, Australian Rules football, taekwondo, twirling, kickboxing, ice stock, racquetball, mountain biking, mountain skiing, rock climbing and bowls.

The idea of the Catalan Olympic Committee was revived in late 2016 after an attempt to create it in 1913 and another in 1991 on the eve of the Barcelona Games in 1992. Then IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch did not respond to the request.

Written by Miguel Hernandez and translated by Kevin Nutley.

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