IOC EB receives updates on National Olympic Committee activities
During its meeting today, the Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) received updates on the situations of the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of Afghanistan, Guatemala, India and Sudan.
NOC of Afghanistan
Further to the IOC EB decision on 6 December 2022, the IOC has continued to monitor the situation of the Olympic community in Afghanistan relating in particular to the issue of ensuring safe and inclusive access to sport for women and young girls in the country. The IOC EB was informed of the latest developments and took the following decision:
The IOC EB took note of the latest discussions with the Afghan NOC and the Afghan Directorate of Physical Education & Sports over the past few months to address the issue of ensuring safe and inclusive access to sport for women and young girls in Afghanistan. The IOC EB was made aware of recent developments, in particular at the level of primary schools to allow young girls to practise sport, as a first step, but reiterated that this remains insufficient.
The IOC EB continues to be extremely concerned by the restrictions placed on women and young girls to access sport in Afghanistan, which have not been reversed despite the repeated calls from the IOC and which run contrary to the Olympic values of non-discrimination, inclusion and respect. Consequently, the IOC EB urges the Afghan NOC and the Afghan Directorate of Physical Education & Sports to drastically strengthen and accelerate their efforts with the highest authorities in the country, and expects to see significant progress and concrete results at all levels in the very near future.
The IOC EB will review the situation at its next meeting in October 2023, after the Asian Games, and reserves the right to take any further measures to protect women and young girls’ access to sport, noting that the specific details for the participation of the Afghan NOC delegation and team in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 have not been decided yet.
Until then, the IOC EB decision taken on 6 December 2022, which stated clear conditions with regard to any support to, activities with and continued operations of the Afghan NOC, remains fully in place.
The IOC continues to directly support athletes aiming to qualify for and participate in the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
NOC of Guatemala
Further to the IOC EB decision on 8 September 2022 and the suspension of the NOC, effective since 15 October 2022, there has unfortunately been no progress with the situation.
NOC of India
The NOC of India has been directed on many occasions to finalise the appointment process of the new CEO/Secretary General without any further delay, in accordance with the NOC Constitution, so as to normalise the situation within the NOC. Unfortunately, the NOC has yet to complete this process. The IOC continues to monitor this issue.
In addition, the NOC of India has been requested to liaise and work closely with the International Federations in order to address a number of ongoing issues affecting Indian Sports Federations, in a coordinated manner and in accordance with the rules and directives of the International Federations concerned. This includes, in particular, the situation of the Wrestling Federation in India.
NOC of Sudan
The EB also heard an update on the situation of the NOC of Sudan in the current context of the civil war in the country.