(ATR) The IOC has reinstated Tunisia in the bidding contest for the African Youth Olympics after receiving assurances about discrimination of athletes.
In May, Olympic chiefs threatened to kick Tunisia out of the four-nation bidding race over the issue. One recent case of many highlighting Tunisian government intervention saw four Israelis banned from participating in the taekwondo world junior championships.
The IOC executive board on Wednesday confirmed that Botswana, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia are moving from the dialogue stage to the candidature phase.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams told a press briefing in Lausanne that Tunisia had provided the necessary reassurances "that everyone will be accepted under Olympic values and can participate in the Youth Olympics".
"Therefore we allowed them to carry on with the process," he said.
In a statement, the IOC said it had received the guarantees required from the Tunisian state in a June 26 letter "to strictly respect the principles and rules of the Olympic Movement and the international sports organisations concerned, and to ensure that all athletes and sporting delegations can now come and participate in any international sporting events held in Tunisia, under the same conditions and without any discrimination."
"As a result of this, the Tunisian NOC was informed by letter dated 12 July that the Tunisian bid to host the YOG in 2022 was fully reinstated within the normal selection process."
Over the past month, three-day visits were made by an IOC delegation of experts to each bidding country to gather information on their motivations for hosting the fourth edition of the summer Youth Olympics.
The IOC executives gained a better understanding of potential master plans and made venue visits before preparing feasibility reports on the bids’ existing indoor arenas, potential sites for outdoor festivals, temporary facilities and accommodation solutions.
The IOC evaluation commission will further review the candidate cities projects. Led by IOC Member in Turkey Uğur Erdener, the YOG 2022 evaluation commission will submit its final report and recommendation in September.
The field of contenders will then be cut in half, with two being proposed by the IOC executive board for the members to make a choice at the Session in Buenos Aires in October.
Written and Reported by Mark Bissonin Lausanne
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