IOC Updates on Pakistan, Egypt NOCs; Appoints HQ Architect

The IOC has threatened the Pakistani NOC with suspension if it does not make agreed changes to its affairs following government interference.

Government meddling in the running of the NOC led the IOC to hold a meeting in Lausanne with Pakistan Olympic leaders in October. The IOC has since verified the legitimacy of the NOC’s composition in consultation with all the IFs concerned.

But the IOC said the Pakistan government had not yet revised the provisions of the national sports policy that were incompatible with the Olympic Charter.

"Until now, the government of Pakistan has not kept its promises," the IOC said in a statement.

"However, it did recently contact the IOC proposing a dialogue to improve the situation, which the IOC has agreed to. The Executive Board decided today that, should the agreed roadmap not be followed, the NOC of Pakistan will be suspended at the next EB meeting in July."

Egypt NOC Issues

The IOC’s ruling body also heard updates about the Egypt NOC, which has also been warned about government interference.

NOC officials last year alerted the IOC to attempts by the country’s sports ministry to interfere in the running of national sports federations and sports clubs.

Following months of discussions between the Olympic Movement and the Egytian government, the IOC said it recently received a positive report on the situation that was jointly signed by the new sports minister, NOC and Olympic Movement representatives.

"The report included the commitments to a new draft sports law by May 2014; to allow national federations to develop their own statutes without government interference; and to guarantee the autonomy of the national federations and sports clubs," the IOC said on Thursday.

"The IOC will continue to follow this file and the implementation of the agreed roadmap in cooperation with all relevant stakeholders."

Expansion of IOC HQ

IOC president Thomas Bach confirmed Thursday that the EB had chosen Danish firm 3xN as its preferred architectural partner for the expansion of the IOC headquarters in Lausanne. Among the architect’s projects are UN offices.

The EB announced its intention last year to look into regrouping the staff of the IOC, who are spread throughout Lausanne at a number of sites.

The new IOC headquarters would bring the vast majority of the administration to the same location in Vidy, "resulting in substantial savings in rental fees, increased working efficiency and energy conservation", the IOC said.

Bach told a press conference on Thursday that if there were positive outcomes from discussions on the plans with Swiss authorities and the Danish company, the project would be given the go-ahead.

IOC Recognises Ski Mountaineering

The EB has granted provisional recognition to the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF), after the IF fulfilled all the criteria of the IOC recognition procedure.

The IOC noted that the ISMF is "a rapidly growing federation with tremendous youth appeal, a strong grounding in Olympic ideals, gender equality and good governance, including WADA compliance. The EB welcomes the federation into the Olympic family".

2022 Candidate Cities Decision

The IOC Executive Board’s next meeting is scheduled for July 7-9 in Lausanne. The main business of the meeting will be to shortlist candidate cities for the 2022 Olympics.

Written by Mark Bisson

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.