IOC Vice President "Sad" About Brexit Vote

(ATR) Craig Reedie tells Around the Rings there is a "huge amount of uncertainty" after Britain’s dramatic decision to leave the European Union – but doesn’t expect any immediate impact on sport.

The UK vote to Remain was defeated by 52 percent to 48 percent on a momentous day in British politics. Prime Minister David Cameron, who made the In-Out EU referendum part of his election promise last year, announced Friday he would step down by October hours after the voting results were announced.

Reedie, an IOC member from Britain, said he voted to Remain "because I don’t think we get too many prizes as a country from walking way from an organization we have been members of for over 40 years.

"I just think it belittles us. I am sad."

The WADA president told ATR that he didn’t expect any instant impact on British sport, noting that the government under Cameron’s successor would take up to two years to "renegotiate a political position within Europe".

"I suspect relatively little changes. There are lot and lots of organizations which are members of European sports associations without being members of the EU," he said.

Reedie acknowledged that football might be the one sport most affected, with concerns already being voiced about the free movement of players. There will be issues linked to work permits for foreign players coming to Premier League clubs.

On a day of massive political upheaval in Britain and across Europe, Reedie suggested the question of nationality may come into play in the make-up of the British Olympic Association and TeamGB only if referenda were held in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Such a scenario is now a strong possibility. Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Friday that a second independence referendum was "highly likely".

Scotland did not vote to leave the EU. Sturgeon said she was "absolutely determined" to keep Scotland in the EU, adding that the Scottish government would prepare legislation to stage a fresh independence vote.

Reedie said that while it seemed inevitable, "we are a long way from another independence referendum up here which may break up the TeamGB situation.

"The BOA question only arises if there is another Scottish referendum."

The European Olympic Committees told ATR there were no alarming implications of Britain’s vote to leave the EU, financial or otherwise.

"The EOC prides itself on being able to oversee European sport independent of political organizations. The 50 member NOCs of the EOC include 22 that are non-EU members and so from an Olympic sport's perspective, we foresee no issue whatsoever with the UK's decision," it said in a statement.

"As always we will continue to fully support each of our 50 members."

Reported by Mark Bisson

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