IOC pulls up India over Kosovo

NEW DELHI: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has asked all its member federations not to grant any world event to India involving Kosovo after the country denied visa to a boxer from the European nation for the ongoing AIBA Women’s World Championships here.

In a strongly-worded letter to the president and secretary-general of all international federations (IFS) on Monday, the IOC reiterated its position on political discrimination against countries at sporting events in the light of the recent development involving Kosovo. “The IOC has been working together with the International Federations, and the umbrella organisations concerned, for many years to protect the fundamental principles which govern the Olympic Movement and make sure that, when a national sports organisation/country decides to bid for an international sports event, it equally abides by the rules of the Olympic Movement,” said IOC deputy director general Pere Miro.

“The national sports federation must guarantee that all athletes and sporting delegations eligible to come and participate, without any undue discrimination or political interference from the host country,” he said.

The IOC has asked all the IFS to get a written undertaking from the Indian authorities for equal participation before allotting the country any world event in future involving Kosovo.