Typhoon Could Scuttle Asian Olympic Assembly

(ATR) Leaders of the Olympic Council of Asia are waiting for word from the Philippines as to whether Typhoon Haiyan will prevent the OCA general assembly at the end of the month.

The super Typhoon struck the central Philippines two days ago including Boracay Island, a tourist resort where the OCA meeting is scheduled to take place. Reports from the island indicate power is out but that damage may not be as severe as in other locations hit by the storm. Operations at Caticlan airport which serves Boracay travelers are reported to have resumed with the passing of the Typhoon.

"All of you are aware of the devastation caused by the Typhoon Haiyan in Philippines, which has resulted in loss of precious lives and also property," writes OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah in a letter to OCA members this weekend on the situation.

"Theisland of Boracay, where the OCA General Assembly and the Asian Games Centennial Festival Celebrations were supposed to be held from 27th to 29th of November, has also been severely affected and all communications to the island has been lost at this moment. The OCA conveys its deepest condolences to the Mayor and People of the Island of Boracay and is committed to support its brothers and sisters in this hour of need.

"We are in close contact with our colleagues in the Philippine Olympic Committee and are assessing the situation regularly. Within the next 48 hours the OCA will update you on any further development," says the OCA leader.

The meeting will mark the centennial of the Asian Games but no host city votes for OCA events are on the agenda. At one stage there had been talk that new IOC president Thomas Bach would attend the meeting, but he will not be there.

Written by Ed Hula.