NOCs of Palestine, Israel Work Toward Safe Travel of Athletes

(ATR) A communication hotline between the National Olympic Committees of Israel and Palestine will facilitate the free movement of athletes within the historically contentious region.

Thursday’s arrangement was brokered by the IOC at its headquarters in Lausanne, also the scene for a January meeting of Olympic leaders from the neighboring, but sometimes not-so-neighborly nations.

"The IOC has an obligation to support measures to protect athletes and to use sport as a tool for peace and development," IOC president Jacques Rogge said in a statement.

"We are encouraged by the frank and friendly discussions between the two NOCs, and will continue to work with them to ensure that further progress on sport-related issues is made."

Like last time, the gathering including Olympic Committee of Israel president Zvi Varshaviak and secretary general Efraim Zinger as well as Palestine Olympic Committee president Jibril Rajoub and international relations director Khalid El-Yazji.

The Palestinian delegation also included Tanya Jaar from the International Affairs Desk of the Palestine Football Association and Jérôme Champagne, advisor to the Palestinian Authority for the development of sport and football.

Rogge and Olympic Solidarity director Pere Miró oversaw Thursday’s meeting, a continuation of the IOC’s ongoing role as mediator between the NOCs.

It’s now upto Varshaviak and Zinger to present plans to the Israeli government for a method ensuring the safe travel of Palestinian athletes throughout his country. In the meantime, a so-called "hotline" to their counterparts in Palestine will deal with issues as they arise.

Also discussed Thursday were participation by both NOCs in the Mediterranean Games, coaching cooperation between the two and the role of Olympic Solidarity in the development of Palestinian sport.

"In the months since the first meeting in January, experts mandated by the IOC travelled to Palestine to draw up a long-term sports development strategy with the Palestine Olympic Committee and relevant authorities," explains a news release from the IOC.

"The IOC provided the Palestinian delegation with a comprehensive report that should serve as a basis for the development of sport and sports infrastructure in Palestine – and the IOC Olympic Council of Asia will jointly provide initial funding towards the project."

The meetings in Lausanne come on the heels of a good will tour of the Middle East made by Rogge last October as well as a touching base of the Olympic committees on the sidelines of the ANOC general assembly soon after.

The IOC, OCI and POC will gather next in Ramallah, Palestine later this year. A fourth meeting for Tel Aviv, Israel was also proposed.

Written by Matthew Grayson.